SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITY AND POVERTY PROFILES IN OIL PRODUCING RURAL AREAS IN NIGERIA

This study examines the disparity in socioeconomic and poverty profiles of people in oil producing rural areas in Nigeria. The study involved a total of 446 respondents selected from fifteen rural communities in the Niger Delta region, where the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil is produced. Inferences were based on the results from simple descriptive analysis involving percentages and cross tabulations. The results indicate a wide disparity in the socioeconomic characteristics and poverty profiles of people in the study areas. In particular, the results suggest poverty prevalence in oil producing rural areas particularly among farmers, fishermen and young people. The results also suggest an obvious impact of oil and gas extraction on agriculture and other traditional sources of livelihood in the rural areas. Thus, a reduction in environmental pollution would help to improve agriculture and other sources of livelihood of the rural people. The study also encourages government support and increased private sector investment in agriculture in the rural areas, while multinational oil companies are encouraged to promote agricultural development through increased financial support for rural farmers, training of the farmers and funding for agricultural research. In addition, the government and multinational oil companies are encouraged to guarantee efficient wealth distribution, provision of employment and sustainable human empowerment through viable skills acquisition programmes for young people in the rural areas