Poverty and National Security: A Review of Policies 1960-2010

Abstract

Mass poverty is synonymous with failure in security in all states of the globe and Nigeria is no exception. This study reviews past poverty alleviation policies and programmes embarked upon by various Nigerian governments, problems associated with these programmes since independence (1960) to date (2010), and a shedding of more light on the policy outcomes. Recommendations are provided. The need to review the successes and failures of past policies is to reduce the poverty level of the people. As government has always introduced a variety of programmes, which were largely unsuccessful in addressing the problems of poverty, the implications have rendered the Nigerian state insecure with increasing and unprecedented criminal activities. This is a result of a number of factors among which are inadequate commitment to programme implementation, and corruption. This study, based on data obtained from secondary and primary sources, was quantitatively presented. The study concluded that Nigeria needs to make a fundamental shift away from policies and institutional arrangements that promote aggrandizement and more toward policies, programmes and institutions that promote efficiency, sustainable, and broadbased growth and poverty alleviation

Keywords: Poverty, alleviation, security, governments.