Opinion
Curbing Rural Poverty In Nigeria
There is the general belief that most people who are in rural areas live in extreme poverty. This may not be totally correct. But the social conditions in the rural areas could make one think so. Despite its natural resources and oil wealth, poverty is widespread in Nigeria. The situation has worsened since the late 1990’s to the extent that the country is now considered as one of the twenty poorest countries in the world. Over 70 per cent of the population is classified poor, with 35 per cent living in absolute poverty.
The people in rural areas are most affected. Most of them are day labourers, subsistence farmers, herdsmen and migrant workers. They struggle to meet their basic needs everyday. The rural dwellers suffer from hunger, ill-health, illiteracy, instability and low self-esteem as well as marginalization from government.
Poverty is especially severe in rural areas where social services and infrastructure are limited or non-existent. The great majority of those who live in rural areas depend on agriculture for food and income. They cultivate tiny plots of land for survival, and depend on rainfall rather than irrigation system.
A high proportion of rural people suffer from malnutrition and other diseases that are related to poor nutrition. The HIV / AIDs pandemic has also taken a heavy toll on the rural population.
Rural poverty is a global phenomenon. It is however, rampant in developing countries than in developed countries. Rural poverty is often associated with poor infrastructures that hinder development and mobility. Rural areas tend to lack sufficient roads that would increase access to agricultural inputs and markets. Without roads, the rural poor are cut off from all forms of development- social, economic and technological development.
Poor infrastructure hinders communication, resulting in social isolation of the rural poor, many of whom have limited access to media and news outlets. Such isolation hinders integration within urban society.
Moreover, poor or non-existent irrigation system threatens agricultural yields because of uncertainty in the supply of water from crop production.
Rural development has long been neglected in Nigeria. This is because investments in health, education, roads, water supply and other social amenities have largely been concentrated in the cities. As a result, the rural population has limited access to safe drinking water, good roads, good health system, and quality education among others.
Even though most of the consumable items come from the rural areas, lack of good roads constitutes problem to free flow of food from the rural areas to the urban centres. This usually forces the prices of foodstuffs upward.
As the population swells up and puts pressure on diminishing resources, escalating environmental problems further threaten food production. Land degradation as a result of extensive agriculture, deforestation and overgrazing, is already at an alarming level in many parts of the country, most especially in the North.
It is obvious that the rural dwellers suffer a lot and government should see to their needs by providing the necessary social amenities that would improve their standard of living.
I believe strongly that if poverty is reduced to its barest minimum, civil unrest, ethnic tensions that continue to brew in different parts of Nigeria, leading to state of insecurity will abate.
It should be noted that the move towards political liberalisation has made militants from religious and ethnic groups to express frustrations more freely and with increasing violence that claims thousands of lives.
In Niger Delta, which is the hub of oil industry, oil theft and bunkering, vandalisation of oil pipelines and other dastardly acts have become the order of the day. A number of acts of sabotage have been carried out against the multinational oil companies by groups seeking a greater share of the oil resources. All these menace usually arise out of frustration and poverty.
Prisca is a student of Mass Communication, Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt.
Joe Prisca
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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