THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE CHALLENGES OF ANTI-POVERTY POLICIES IN NIGERIA
Authors:
ALAO David
Publication Type: Journal article
Journal:
ISSN Number:
0
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Abstract
The paper reviewed Nigerian government policy initiatives towards poverty alleviation over the years and the challenges which rendered the policies ineffective. In spite of its abundant endowment in human and natural resources, Nigeria has been classified, not only as a poor nation, but one of the poorest in the world. However, the successive governments of the country right from 1972 have made poverty alleviation the central focus of their socio-economic reforms and have thus spent billions of naira on poverty alleviation programmes. This notwithstanding, about 70 percent of the country’s population still contend with extreme poverty and hunger due to corruption, lack of sustainability, poor policy formulation and implementation, among others. The paper observed that this situation is capable of threatening the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in the country by 2015. The study concluded by recommending sustainable development, accountability, transparency, consistent policies on agricultural development and minimal politicization of anti-poverty policies as panacea to the challenges observed. The study was descriptive and data obtained through secondary sources while the analysis was qualitative.