Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria. It observed that the excruciating pains of poverty is felt everywhere in Nigeria with the greatest impact on those in rural areas  of the country. It argued that efforts of government over the years in reducing rural poverty have failed as the poor conditions of the rural people in the country confirm. The paper emphasized the important place of agriculture and rural infrastructure in poverty reduction. It argued further that poverty in Nigeria is not on ground of lack of poverty alleviation programmes but poor leadership, lack of transparency, accountability and unethical conducts in the performance of government functions. The paper concluded that poverty alleviation is the outcome of political, economic and social forces that interact with and reinforce each other in ways that ease the state of deprivation in which poor people live. It recommended among other things, that government should build physical assets, and expand opportunities for productive employment.