Combating Poverty in Nigeria: The Strategic Options

Abstract

This paper is an assessment of government's attempts on poverty alleviation in Nigeria with a view to identifying the problem(s) working against its successful implementation, and to proffer suggestions that would serve as panacea to the problems. Secondary data was obtained from relevant books, journals, magazines, and official documents. The study revealed that the non-active involvement of target beneficiaries of the programme and entrusting the programme in the hands of a cabal of technocrats, made it impossible to determine the felt needs of the target beneficiaries which would have provided vital information for the policy formulation, planning, execution and monitoring of the programme. Economic crisis, political instability and government lack of determination in the pursuit of the objectives of the programmes contributed to its failure. Suggestions were made on how to find solutions to the identified problems.