ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMME (NAPEP) AS POVERTY AND CRIME CONTROL MECHANISM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Poverty and crime have become a draconian monster confronting our society in all spheres. The incidences of poverty rose from 28.1% in 1980 to 65.6% in 1996 and have risen to more than 70% today. All of these have a direct bearing on the rate of crime in the country. Nigeria currently scores low in terms of the widely accepted UNDP Human Development Index (HDI). This implies a low level of overall societal welfare and development. This was the extent to which poverty and crime stood in Nigeria before the establishment of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in 2001 by the then Obasanjo administration to fight this draconian monster confronting the Nigerian society and be completely wiped out by the year 2010. Having gone beyond 2010 with no end in sight to the challenges of poverty and crime in Nigeria, can we say NAPEP was a success story? Considering the enormous financial support the programme enjoyed nationally and internationally, does it reflect on the current rate of poverty and crime in the country? Has NAPEP truly addressed the pandemic of crushing poverty and crime in Nigeria as mandated fourteen (14) years after its establishment and operation? This paper assessed the impact of NAPEP as a poverty and crime control mechanism in Nigeria. The paper relies on journals, books, conference papers, government official reports, reports from international organisations, and observations, as well as newspapers and magazines as sources of data and relevant information. It is purely an evaluative research, carried out under the platform of the Marxist/conflict theory. The paper finds that the rate of poverty and crime is still high despite the fourteen (14) years of NAPEP fighting against it. The paper therefore recommends adjustment of our political and economic system, provision of infrastructure as well as development of human capital among others as measures to addressing these challenges.