Implementing National Poverty Eradication | Programme (NAPEP) and Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria.

Abstract

The paper examines the effects of poor implementation of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) on sustainable rural development in Nigeria. Poverty, which is an aspect of gross social inequality, is mostly associated with developing nations, most especially the sub-Saharan African countries. These countries are characterised with low productive capacity, increase in population, low capital, inadequate education and joblessness. Nigeria being a developing country has, over the years, put in place a number of poverty alleviation programmes in order to achieve sustainable development especially in the rural areas. The paper therefore looks at the theoretical postulations on the right approach to poverty reduction. These include economic growth approach, basic need approach, rural development-approach among others. The concept of rural development and its objectives were discussed. The method employed in data collection is secondary sources by way of textbook journals and other published materials. Information from the above sources were analysed and it was observed that factors that militated against the implementation of the programme are failure to focus on the poor, lack of access to resources, poor targeting mechanisms, programme inconsistency, corrupt practices etc. Based on the above. appropriate recommendations were made for effective programme implementation for sustainable rural development in Nigeria.