DIASPORA REMITTANCES AND POVERTY TRENDS IN NIGERIA: THE EXPLANATORY ROLES OF INFLATION AND POPULATION GROWTH

Abstract

Though there are substantial increases in remittance inflows into Nigeria over the past two decades, poverty levels remain persistently high, raising concerns regarding the extent to which remittances contribute to poverty reduction within the country. This study examines the relationship between diaspora remittances and poverty trends in Nigeria while assessing the explanatory roles of inflation and population growth between 2003 and 2022. The study adopts a quantitative longitudinal research design using secondary time-series data obtained from the World Bank World Development Indicators database. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics. The findings indicate that diaspora remittances exhibit a weak negative but statistically insignificant relationship with poverty, while inflation records a weak positive relationship with poverty. Population growth emerges as the strongest and only statistically significant predictor of poverty trends in Nigeria. The study concludes that although remittances provide important household welfare support, broader demographic and macroeconomic pressures significantly constrain their poverty-reducing impact in Nigeria.