This is the categorization of
poverty according the dimension through which it is experienced in the economy.
There are as follows:
Spatial dimension of poverty
This
dimension of poverty is based on regional or geographical spread and its
incidence is recognized in terms of rural poverty and urban poverty.
i.
Rural
poverty: Data obtained from the National Planning Commission (1997) on
population census show that Nigeria
is predominantly rural, with 63.72 percent of her population dwelling in rural
areas. The CBN/World Bank study on Poverty Assessment and Alleviation in Nigeria
(1999) less access to social service, such as health, sanitation, electricity
and safe water, and a lack of knowledge about their right of the need for governmental
intervention to provided these services. This makes it hard for the rural people
to exert pressure or propose changes in the system.
ii.Urban Poverty: Available data from the
Federal Office Statistics (FOS) on poverty profile in Nigeria (1999), that
rural poverty higher than the urban level. While urban poverty was 17.2 percent
in 1980, it rose to 58.2 percent in 1996. Urban poverty depicts the existence
of inadequate welfare services, low per capital income, overcrowded areas and
hence costs, which are beyond the reach of average urban dwellers. Englama et
al (1997) identified rural to urban drift as a major factor especially of
school levers and university graduates who seek employment in urban centers
that in most situations are not available. This results in under provision of
facilities and amenities, which are inadequate to match the growing urban
populace. This concomitant over crowding makes some of the urban dwellers
susceptible to health hazards.
iii.
Sectoral
Dimension of Poverty
This refers tot eh dimension of poverty along professional trade lines.
This is because the type of economic activities engaged in is also a factor
that can affect growth and development and consequently the welfare of the
people. This results from the fact that certain occupational practices are
characterized by low productivity, low income and very limited access to
economic resources and social infrastructure.
iv.
Gender
Dimension of Poverty
This dimension of poverty arises from protests for social
and economic rights or against exclusion from economic benefits. The CBN/World
Bank study (1999) showed that female-handed households are more vulnerable to
poverty than male-handed households. This is because women, particularly in the
rural areas of Nigeria,
are usually impoverished due to discrimination they encounter in getting jobs,
and credit facilities for self-employment, hence this hindered their
entrepreneurial abilities. According to Oladumi (1996), women’s interests are
usually regarded as residuals and are disadvantaged with respect to norms and
traditions prevailing in many Nigerian communities. These include gender
disparities of widowhood rites, early marriages, and low education and so on,
thus aggravating their poverty situation.