Poverty in Nigeria: Potential Aggravating Factors

Abstract

Nigeria has grappled with poverty for decades despite the abundance of natural and human resources. This study explores poverty from the income and multidimensional perspectives and reconnoitres some contemporary challenges that might potentially perpetuate poverty and snowball its level in Nigeria. This study is anchored on the state fragility theory. The study utilised the qualitative research method based on literature search from secondary sources including journal articles, books, institutional documents, and newspapers. Information was also sourced from verified internet materials, while data was descriptively analysed. Contemporary issues like weak state institutions, inflation and weak local currency, unemployment, gaps in infrastructure, corruption, poor access to health, and security challenges are conduits to keep the majority of Nigerians in poverty, and dip more people into poverty. The study recommends that government should strengthen state institutions to address these contemporary issues to alleviate poverty in Nigeria. Positive attitude towards challenges through adherence to good values and value re-orientation is also recommended.

Keywords

• poverty
• Nigeria
• aggravating factors
• state institutions