Informal Sector and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: A Study of Commercial Motorcycle Riders in Dutse Metropolis

Abstract

This Study investigates the role of the informal sector in poverty alleviation among commercial motorcycle riders in Dutse Metropolis of jigawa state Nigeria. The research uses primary data collected from 379 respondents randomly selected from a population of 7273 registered operators in Dutse Metropolis. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used tin analyzing the data. Employing OLS technique, three econometric models were estimated and tested using income, Consumption expenditure and wealth accumulation as dependent variables while experience, age, level of education, marital status, number of dependents, mode of operation, number of hours worked per day and daily turnover of the respondents as explanatory variables. The study revealed that 93% of the operators earn above the international poverty line of one dollor a day which. Furthermore, experience, mode of operation, number of hours worked and turnover are the major determinant of poverty alleviation of the commercial motorcycle riders in Dutse Metropolitan area. The Implication of these findings point to the need for serious attention to the sector through rigorous regulation and funding so that it will help in solving unemployment and poverty problems in Dutse metropolis, Jigawa state and the country at large.