IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP RESEARCH (JPSLR )

E-ISSN 2504-883X
P-ISSN 2695 2432
VOL. 11 NO. 5 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jpslr.vol.11.no5.2025.pg86.96

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Socio-Political and Economic Transformation of the Peasantry in Contemporary Nigeria

Onuoha, Peter Chuks, Okore, Michael Okiemute

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Abstract

The study explores socio-political and economic transformation of the peasantry with emphasis in contemporary Nigeria. The peasants play a pivotal role in sustenance and stability of the Nigeria state due to their economic activities; production of food basically for family consumption and in some cases, exchange in the market. However, despite the enormous role played by the peasants, the existence of peasant is been threatened in Nigeria due to some factors such as climate change, industrialisation and poor leadership which have facilitated the transformation of peasantry in Nigeria. The social class theory propounded by Karl Marx in the 19th century was deployed for the study. Secondary method of data collection was utilised for the study; it involves the collection of data from textbooks, journals and articles among others. The study found out that there are some factors that propel the transformation of peasants in Nigeria; climate change, industrialisation, overdependence on oil and leadership failure etc. Nigeria today depends largely on crude oil production as the mainstay of its economy. Oil accounted for about 80% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange. The agricultural sector has been neglected as a result of oil boom. The study therefore recommends that there is need for Nigerian government to diversify its economy from oil based economy to include other sectors such as the agricultural sector to halt the migration of peasant from rural areas in search for paid jobs as a result of opportunities created by oil boom. This can be achieved by developing the agricultural sector

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