Welcome • Sponsors • Conference Schedule •Panelist Handbook • Abstracts and Bios • Contact Us

Abstracts and Bios

Poverty, the Bane of Movements and Migrations in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria

Akiyode Oluwole Olusegun, Bell Int Ltd/Lagos State Ministry of the Environment
woleakiyode@yahoo.com

The paper examines the growth of poverty in Nigeria and its socioeconomic consequences on the citizenry in relationship to movements and migrations of the people within and outside the country.
“ The World Bank Poverty Assessment report for Nigeria identified the country as a nation that is rich while the people are poor”. The 1991 Population Census put the population of Nigeria at 88.5 million people out of which 64% live in rural areas while 36% resides in urban areas. “Nigeria poverty level increased from 39.7 million people in 1992 to 67.1 million people in 1996. “It is estimated that about 70% of the population was poor in 2001”. It is projected that the country has over 120 million people at present
The paper attributed the cause of the movements and migrations to continual widespread of poverty among the populace which is due to mismanagement of Government funds by the past and present ruling class, ineffective Government policies, lack of social security, growing unemployment rate, instability of school system and lack of adequate public education cum enlightenment.
Recommendations are proffered to ameliorate the cause of the regular shifts.