Abstract

What constitutes poverty transcends the lack of income but generally captures such other subjective and supplementary aspects that represent human functioning and capability. This view enables the design and implementation of policies to alleviate poverty among the poor, especially the riverine households with their attendant risks. Data were obtained from 448 riverine households in South-western Nigeria to examine the level of multidimensional deprivation and poverty among them. The mean household size was 5; fifty-six (56%) having less than minimum 9 year compulsory and basic education; only about 16% of them having members gainfully engaged and about 68% of the household heads engaging in Onshore livelihood activities. Majority (60.3%) of the households suffered deprivation in eight indicators (61.54% of the total possible number of deprivation) and above, all (100%) of the riverine households being adjudged poor in about 6%, 12% and 19% respectively’ of the thirteen dimensions of deprivation. At dual cutoff value (k = 8), the adjusted multidimensional poverty rate of the households (M₀ = 0.3422); adjusted poverty gap (M₁ = 0.1608), and poverty severity (M₂ = 0.0761) showed high level of inequality among the deprived households. Conclusively, poverty was manifested in basic standard of living commodities and services among the riverine households as indicated by their low level of education, limited access to hygienic source of drinking water, food, energy, health care, toilet facilities as well as improved means of livelihood.

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