PDP is the result of Poverty in Nigeria

Though the ruling Peoples Democratic Party is not mentioned in the report, the party has been in power in Nigeria since 1999, eleven of the 15 years covered by the AfDB report; with only the earliest four years out of the party’s administration.
The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja, also said the Federal Government’s effort to reduce poverty rate by 2015 seems weak.
“Nigeria’s prospect of halving poverty by 2015 seems weak.
“Poverty is higher in rural areas at 73.2 per cent than in urban area at 61.8 per cent,’’ it said.
According to the document, inequality, as measured by the GINI coefficient, rose from 0.429 in 2004 to 0.447 in 2010
GINI coefficient is a measurement of statistical dispersion developed by Italian Statisticians and Sociologist, Corrado Gini.
GINI index measures the extent of distribution of income or consumption expenditure among individuals or households
The report noted that the rate of poverty varied significantly between the urban and rural citizens and among the geographical zones, adding that 66 per cent of the rural population lives below poverty line of one dollar per day.
“Malnutrition is widespread. Rural areas and disadvantaged groups are particularly vulnerable to chronic food shortage and unbalanced nutrition.
“41 per cent of Nigerian children are stunted, nine per cent wasted or thin and 23 per cent underweight,’’ it said.
It added as at 2011 unemployment rate was at 24 per cent compared to 21 per cent in 2010, adding that the rate was high among the age bracket of between 15 and 24, and 25 to 44, at 38 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.
The report noted that an average of 1.8 million people entered the labour market every year over the past five years. It quoted the statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics to have projected that number of entrance to the labour market yearly, would grow from three million in 2012 to about 8.5 million in 2015.
“Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment is an urgent policy priority, several agencies and plans have been established to tackle poverty and unemployment,’’ it said.
It said that this must be enhanced to ensure effective engagement of the youth for economic growth and development.
On social protection, the report said that though it was a priority in Vision 20:2020 plan, it was yet to have a comprehensive policy and budget support.
“Social protection policy has been on the agenda for some time. Several actors are involved in funding and ensuring social welfare.
“Mainly civil society groups with programmes supporting orphans, widows and people living with HIV/AIDs,’’ it said