Assessment of Poverty Incidence Among Rural Households in Kebbi State

Rural poverty in North West Nigeria persists despite policy interventions, and systematic measurement and characterisation of poverty incidence in Kebbi State provides a baseline for programme targeting and evaluation. This study assessed poverty incidence and its correlates among rural households in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, and Koko-Besse Local Government Areas, Kebbi State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 350 rural households. Per capita monthly expenditure was computed and compared against the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics poverty line of N137,430 per capita annually. Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measures were calculated. Regression analysis identified correlates of household poverty status. Results showed a poverty headcount of 72.8 percent, a poverty gap index of 0.38, and a poverty severity index of 0.21. Agricultural households dependent on a single crop showed significantly higher poverty incidence than diversified households. Households with female heads showed marginally lower poverty rates in the survey, contrary to national trends, attributed to their greater engagement in small-scale trade. Educational attainment of the household head was a significant negative predictor of poverty. Access to financial services reduced poverty probability by 26 percent. The study concludes that rural poverty in Kebbi State is deep and structurally determined. Recommendations include income diversification support, expanding GEEP social investment coverage, improving financial inclusion through agent banking in rural LGAs, and accelerating girls' education to build future household resilience.

Keywords: rural poverty, FGT measures, household expenditure, Kebbi State, poverty correlates