THE PARADOX OF POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN NIGERIAINSIGHTS FOR A POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

Nigeria is perhaps the most blessed country in Africa, in terms of its abundant mineral resources, agricultural and forest resources, distinctively more favourable climatic conditions and highly diverse human resources. These factors, alongside its overwhelmingly increasing population for foreign investment potentially and strategically put the responsibility of economic development on Nigeria, with its citizens expected to live not below the average standard of living. It is paradoxical however, that most Nigerians are poor. This study reviewed trends in poverty level in Nigeria from 1980-2014, examined the causes of poverty and inequality in Nigeria, evaluated Nigeria's potentials for a post-2015 development agenda, evaluated the level of satisfaction with the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as the desirability level for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study found corruption, weak institution and poor governance; unemployment and underemployment; and high population growth as the major causes of poverty and inequality in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]