POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY DYNAMICS IN NIGERIA: EXAMINING STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS, SOCIO SPATIAL CONSEQUENCES AND PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE RESILIENCE

Abstract

Nigeria, despite ranking as Africa's largest economy, continues to grapple with widespread poverty and vulnerability, with citizens living in extreme poverty and multidimensional deprivations disproportionately affecting rural populations, children, and conflict-affected regions. This study examines the structural dimensions of poverty and vulnerability in Nigeria, analysing endogenous and exogenous drivers, spatial disparities, and the effectiveness of policy responses aimed at reducing deprivation and strengthening resilience. The analysis is anchored on human development theory, which frames poverty as a deprivation of capabilities rather than income alone, and dependency theory, which situates Nigeria's underdevelopment within structural and geopolitical constraints inherited from colonial-era economic relations. A qualitative, secondary-data research design was adopted, drawing on institutional reports, peer-reviewed literature, government documents, and grey literature, analysed through descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Findings reveal that poverty in Nigeria is driven by economic stagnation, weak governance, social and gender inequalities, and worsening environmental conditions, with rural areas experiencing markedly higher deprivation than urban centres, though urban poverty presents distinct vulnerabilities tied to informal employment and inadequate services. Decades of government interventions have largely failed due to institutional duplication, corruption, poor coordination, and inconsistent implementation. The study concludes that sustainable poverty reduction requires a multidimensional strategy that simultaneously expands human capabilities, strengthens institutions, and addresses structural dependency. It recommends coordinated action across government, community organisations, NGOs, and international partners, alongside improved transparency, targeted social protection, and diversification of Nigeria's economic base, to break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability and build lasting resilience across rural and urban populations.