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THE IMPACT OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Poverty alleviation programmes has been recognized as an instrument par excellence for effective community development. It is infact a veritable tool for achieving economic prosperity and community development. Hence, it could be said that poverty alleviation is a sinequanon to community development. The past governments have no doubt initiate d and implemented various poverty alleviation programmes with the aim of reducing poverty to the barest minimum which would unequivocally bring about community development. The major thrust of this paper therefore is to access the impact of poverty alleviation programmes on community development. Particularly in Ojo local government area of Lagos State. The study sought to determine the various poverty alleviation programmes initiated by the government, its extent of achievement of its aims and examine its impact on the overall development of the community. The sample consists of two major markets. (Alaba International Market and Iyana Iba market). Two (2) higher institution: "Lagos.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The prevalence of poverty today in our society has not only dwindled its economic situation but also deteriorated the development of our community. The plan for prosperity must address a startling paradox about two-third of the Nigerian people are poor despite living in a country with vast potential wealth. Although revenues from crude oil have been increasing over the past decades, yet our people have been wallowing in abject poverty. In 1980 an estimated 27 percent of Nigerians lived inpoverty, By 1999, about 70 percent of the population lived in poverty earning an income of less than $1 a day and the figure has increased since then. Life expectancy is a mere 54 years, and infant mortality (77 per 1,000) and maternal mortality (704 per 100,000 live births) are among the highest in the world. Other social indictors (from 1999) are also weak.

·       Only 10% of the population had access to essential drugs.

·       There were fewer than 30 physicians per 100,000 people.

·       Among children, almost 30 percent were under weight, qualitatively, poverty in our society (Nigeria) has many manifestations and dimensions including joblessness. Over indebtness, economic dependence, inability to provide the basic needs of life for self and family among other dimensions of poverty. Community development can only be perceived as mere illusion in a society where poverty has actually engulfed the entire system. The plethora of poverty alleviation programmes which the past governments had initiated and implemented only appears to impoverish the poor while the rich on the other hand seems tobecome richer.

The response of various administrators to the poverty problems appears to have been largely adhoc and unco­ordinated. A recent survey of policies and interventions chronicles 28 federal projects and programmes with poverty reduction thrust. Several state governments have also put poverty reduction schemes in place. With the advent of democratic government in 1999 measureswere adopted to streamline poverty-related institutions, review past poverty alleviation programmes and harmonize sectoral efforts. While none of these programmes was completely without merits, none of them had a significant, lasting or sustainable positive effect. Hence, the dire need to critically analyse various poverty alleviation programmes and their achievements made with regards to the development of our community. It is hoped that the result of this study will provide useful strategies which when adopted, would make the impact of poverty alleviation programmes felt on community development.

1.2    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The rationale behind this study can be summarized into the follow.ng points:

i. Provision of background and indepth knowledge the historical antecedent of poverty and poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria.

ii. To critically analyse the weaknesses of the programmes.

iii. To juxtapose alleviation of poverty with community development, nothing their relationship and the effect of one over the other.

iv. Suggest possible solution to end failure of poverty alleviation programmes particularly in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State and how community development could help reduce poverty to the nearest minimum level.

1.3    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

At the end of the study, this research work seeks to:

(i) Determine the level of achievements and weaknesses of past attempts made by the government at alleviating poverty.

(ii) To establish the inter-relationship between poverty alleviation and community development.

(iii) Make the government and poverty alleviation facilitator realise the failure of past poverty alleviation programme and their causes.

1.4    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Quite incontrovertible is the fact that sequel to the introduction of various poverty alleviation programmes by the governments. Nigerians are bound to develop certain feelings and opinions about the programmes. The development of positive attitude towards the programmes will no doubt facilitate the implementation and success of such programmes with regards to community development. It is therefore imperative to ensure that citizens participate actively in project formulation and implementation which they are supposed to be the beneficiaries. Equally that the facilitators of such programmes should use the programmes as a means of emancipating the poor from the shackles of poverty rather than a means of amassing -illegal wealth.

1.5    PROBLEM OF THE STUDY

The problems militating against this study may be said to be multidimensional as against the statement of the problem. A clear manifestation of the above mention fact can be evident in the nature of poverty reduction strategies in Nigeria itself.  Previous research work made it obvious that several major factors hindering the success of government efforts to reduce the level of poverty includes:

·       Nigerian's legacy of mismanagement and corrupt governance.

·       The boom - and - bust made-of economic management.

·       The limited growth of investment and technological innovation.

·       Poor coordination.

·  Absence of a comprehensive policy frame work. These alongside other reasons such as the.

· Large expanse of geographical boundaries in which the country is situated.

· The stress and problems associated with travelling.

· The financial implication of travelling in a bid to source or relevant information in the different geopolitical zones within the country.

· The hazards posed by poor road facilities coupled with the implications of travelling bad roads. These among other reasons would not doubt limit the scope of the study to a sample of a population while the result deduced from such sample is then generalized.

1.6    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of this study will not doubt to a large extent expose the weaknesses and achievements of past poverty alleviation programmes. Equally, it would provide basis for effective guidance for the facilitators to modify/reinforce their attitude towards achieving the set goals for the programmes put in place. It is also believed that the result of this study will avail the government the opportunity to study past attempts at alleviating poverty to see where their mistakes lies and then devise a means for progress in this regard.

1.7    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.       What is poverty and its etymology?

ii.      What are the causes and effects of poverty?

iii.     What are the factors contributing to poverty in Nigeria?

iv.     How best could poverty be reduced or alleviated?

v.  What past attempts have been made by the government to reduce poverty in Nigeria, its achievements and weaknesses?

vi.  What are the effects of poverty alleviation programmes on community development in Ojo Local Government?

vii. How best can we evaluate the progress made by the government in alleviating poverty?

1.8    RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:   Poverty alleviation is not a prerequisite for community development.

Hi:    Poverty alleviation is a prerequisite for community development,

1.9    SCOPE OR DELIMITATION

This study will basically deal with the assessment / impact of poverty alleviation programmes as an indispensable tool for community development particularly m "Ojo Local Government" area of Lagos state.

1.10 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Poverty reduction is no doubt the most difficult challenge facing Nigeria and its people and the greatest obstacle to the pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth and community development. Poverty levels vary across the country, with the highest proportion of poor people in the North West and the lowest people in the south-West. Although this study seeks to appraise the impact of poverty alleviation programmes on community development in Nigeria. However, distance geographical location of different geo- political zones alongside cost implications of travelling and time involved in such research work would no doubt limit the scope /areas to be covered by the research work. Hence, a sample of Ojo Local Government area of Lagos state would be used for the research work while the result obtained would then be generalized.

1.11 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Alleviation: This is the act to make something painful suffering less or easier to bear.

Strategies: This is the skill in managing any affairs.

Pauperization: A situation of a person with no means of livelihood, especially one who is supported by charity. They are sometimes called paupers.

Dilapidated: A state of a thing/ an object being damage/ ruined.

Deteriorate: To grow worse and get damaged.

Poverty: The deprivation of those things that determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking.

Destitute: When someone is in need or without any means of livelihood, it is all extreme case or poverty. 

REFEFRENCES

Aigbokhan, B.E.(1998). Poverty, Growth and Inequality in Nigeria: A case study, final Report Presented at the AERC workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, December, 1998.

Ogwumike, F.O. (1998). "Poverty Alleviation Strategies in Nigeria". In measuring and Monitoring Poverty in Nigeria proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Zonal Research Units of C.B.N.

Yusuf, A. (1999). The challenge of Underdevelopment and poverty. Ibadan, O.A.U. Press.

Fakorede, I.L. (1998). A New Look at Poverty Alleviation, Business Concord, Friday April 5, 1998. Page 8.

Agada Yakubu (1998). Effect of Poverty on the Youth. The vanguard, January 7, 1998.

NAPEP, National Poverty Eradication Programme www.napep.org. Assessed 20/ 1/06 2006.

Federal Office of Statistics. (1999). Poverty Profile for Nigeria: 1980 -996.

Egware, L. (1997); "Poverty and Poverty Alleviation: Nigeria's Experience" In Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, selected papers for the 1997 Annual Conference byNigerian.

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