INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA, 2019 - 2024

This study examines the impact of international trade on poverty reduction in Nigeria between 2019 and 2024, with particular emphasis on trade diversification in non-oil sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing. Nigeria’s heavy dependence on crude oil exports has continued to expose the economy to external shocks, limiting inclusive growth and effective poverty reduction. Against this backdrop, the study adopts a quantitative survey research design to assess how trade diversification, infrastructural development, and social protection measures influence poverty outcomes in Nigeria. Data were collected from 400 respondents using a structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics and chi-square techniques. The study is anchored on the Trade and Development Theory and Dependency Theory, which provide a theoretical basis for understanding the role of international trade in development and structural inequality in developing economies. The findings reveal strong public support for trade diversification as a critical pathway for poverty reduction, employment generation and sustainable national development. The results further indicate that improvements in infrastructure significantly enhance Nigeria’s participation in international trade, while effective social protection measures play a vital role in ensuring that trade benefits are equitably distributed, particularly among vulnerable populations.The study concludes that international trade can contribute meaningfully to poverty reduction in Nigeria when it is supported by diversified non-oil exports, adequate infrastructure, and inclusive social protection frameworks. However, without deliberate policies to address structural constraints and inequality, the poverty-reducing potential of trade remains limited. Based on these conclusions and findings, the study recommends sustained investment in agriculture and manufacturing, improved infrastructural development, expansion of social protection programmes, and the adoption of inclusive trade and economic policies to ensure equitable distribution of trade benefits and long-term national transformation.本研究聚焦2019至2024年间尼日利亚国际贸易对减贫的影响，重点探讨农业、制造业等非石油领域的贸易多元化路径。尼日利亚长期高度依赖原油出口，导致其经济持续暴露于外部冲击之下，制约了包容性增长与实质性减贫进程。在此背景下，本研究采用定量调查研究设计，评估贸易多元化、基础设施建设与社会保障措施如何影响尼日利亚的贫困状况。研究通过结构化问卷从400名受访者处收集数据，并采用描述性统计与卡方检验方法开展数据分析。本研究以贸易与发展理论（Trade and Development Theory）及依附理论（Dependency Theory）为理论基础，二者为理解国际贸易在发展中的作用以及发展中经济体的结构性不平等提供了理论支撑。研究结果显示，公众普遍支持将贸易多元化作为实现减贫、创造就业与可持续国家发展的关键路径。研究结果还表明，基础设施的完善可显著提升尼日利亚参与国际贸易的程度，而有效的社会保障措施则对保障贸易收益公平分配（尤其是脆弱群体的收益分配）发挥着关键作用。本研究得出结论：在多元化非石油出口、充足基础设施与包容性社会保障框架的支撑下，国际贸易可对尼日利亚的减贫工作产生实质性助力。然而，若缺乏针对性政策以解决结构性制约与不平等问题，贸易的减贫潜力仍将受到限制。基于上述结论与研究结果，本研究提出如下建议：持续加大对农业与制造业的投资，完善基础设施建设，扩大社会保障覆盖范围，并推行包容性贸易与经济政策，以保障贸易收益公平分配，实现国家长期转型发展。