Poverty Reduction in Rural Nigeria through Targeting Approach and Legislations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of poverty and legislative efforts of government to combat absolute poverty in rural Nigeria. Data collection relied on the use of participatory approaches such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Stakeholder analysis, and Participatory Action Learning (PLA). One hundred and twenty seven communities from Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa States were involved in the data collection. Indicators of poverty and their measurements such as socioeconomic indicators, perceptions of the people, government's policies and legislations were identified. The study concluded that although there are increasing incidences of poverty in Nigeria, effective and concerted efforts such as legislation and “targeting” approach to poverty alleviation would not only reduce poverty but would eventually eliminate it in the country.

Int. J. Agric. Rural Dev., 2003, 4: 124-130