[01] John Nkeobuna Nnah Ugoani, Department of Management Sciences, College of Management and Social Sciences, Rhema University, Aba, Nigeria.

Natural resources are essential ingredients for the development of any nation. But in many parts of the developing world like Nigeria, huge finances arising from natural resources are stolen by individuals and corporate bodies due to bad public management to the detriment of national development. This brings about the situation where plenty people live in poverty in the midst of plenty natural resources. Soil and climatic conditions favour the development of agriculture in many parts of Nigeria and about 60 million of the population is engaged in agriculture for survival and export. With improvements in farming technology and good natural resources management, Nigeria can feed its population and continue to make progress in national development efforts. The exploratory research design was used for the study. The result showed positive relationship between the variables of interest. The study was limited by lack of current relevant literature; therefore, further study could examine the relationship between poor natural resources management and poverty in Nigeria in attempt to explain the reasons for high rate of poverty in Nigeria. It was recommended that government should give attention to the mining and management of mineral resources such as gold and steel as a major perspective on national development in Nigeria.

Gold, Developing World, Forestry, Good Management, RUGA, Soil and Climatic Conditions, National Livestock Transformation Plan, Environmental Protection and Management

[01] Uwazuruike, C. N (1991) Educational Planning and National Development: A Nigerian Perspective. Awka. Mekslink Publishers, Nigeria. [02] Fafunwa, B, (1990) Resource Management and Development in Nigeria. Natural Resources. Kaduna. National Teachers’ Institute. PP: 1-5. [03] Todaro, M. P (1982) Economics for a Developing World. 2^nd Edition Singapore, Longman. [04] Awolowo, O. (1988) The Peoples Republic. London. Oxford University Press. [05] Adebimpe, I. A (2011) Corruption: The Bane of Nigeria’s Development. International Journal of Social and Policy Issues, 8 (1): 231-240 [06] Nweke, A, and Utomi, P, (2010) Impact of Corruption on National Development. The Nation on Sunday, April 4, pp: 58. [07] Lawal G. (2007) Corruption and Development in Africa: Challenges for Political and Economic Change. Humanity and Social Sciences Journal, 2 (1): 1-7. [08] Adewole, O. A, Balogun, S, and Olajide, A. O (2011) Corruption in Nigeria: A New Paradigm for Effective Culture. International Journal for Social and Policy Issues, 8 (1): 7-16. [09] Lucas, O, (2019) Irregular RUGA. The Nation, Vol. 13, No. 4728, pp: 19. [10] Amaize, E. (2020) Constitution Review: Go back to 2014 confab report, PANDEF tells Senate. Sunday Vanguard, vol. 24, No. 159471, pp: 6. [11] Meredith, J (1993) Theory Building Through Conceptual Methods. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 13 (5): 3-11. [12] Cleary, R. (1992) Models As Effective Research Tools. In D. M Cavanagh and G. M. Rodwell (eds) Dialogue in Educational Research Darwin, W. T, William Michael Press. [13] Nwizu G. C (2002) Studies in Modern Public Administration. Marco Press, Okigwe. [14] Tshiyoyo, M. M. (2012) Leadership and Governance Imperative for Development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. [15] McCourt, W. (2008) Public Management in Developing Countries. From downsizing to governance. Public Management Review, 10 (4): 467–479. [16] Bojo, J. Bucknau, J. Hamilton, K. Kishor, N. Kraus C. and Pillani, P (2002), Environment. In J. Klugman (Ed). A Sourcebook for Poverty Reduction Strategies, Vol. 1. Core Techniques and Cross-Cutting Issues. The World Bank, Washington, D. C pp: 375-401. [17] DFID (1999) Sustainable Livelihood Guidance, UK. [18] Klugman, J. (2002) A Sourcebook for Poverty Reduction Strategies, vol. 1 Core Techniques and Cross- Cutting Issues. The World Bank Washington D. C. [19] Christie I. T and Compton, D. E (2001) Tourism in Africa. Africa Region Working Paper Series, No. 12, World Bank, Washington, D. C. [20] Lutz, E, (1998) Agriculture and the Environment: Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Development. A World Bank Symposium. World Bank, Washington D. C. [21] Chambers, R. and Conway G. (1992) Sustainable Rural Livelihood: Practical Concepts for The 21^st Century. IDS Discussion Paper No. 296. Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex, Brighton, U.K. [22] Agbogu, E. N and Archana, S. N. (2011) Programs and Projects for Improving Rural, Social and Economic Institutions in Nigeria: A Preliminary Assessment. International Journal of Social and Policy Issues 8 (1): 32-38. [23] Falana F, (2019) Falana sues Government, NEITI over alleged unremitted N13tr. The Guardian, Vol. 35 No. 14795 pp: 9. [24] Ugoani, J. N. N. (2016) Political Will and Anti-Corruption Crusade Management in Nigeria. Independent Journal of Management & Production. 7 (1): 72–97. [25] Momoh, Y. I (2011) Effects of Government Policies on Small and Medium Enterprises for Wealth Creation in Nigeria: A Study of Idah Town. International Journal of Social and Policy Issues 8 (1): 247-251. [26] Central Bank of Nigeria (1999) Development Policies for Small and Medium Enterprises. Central Bank of Nigeria 12 (5): 1-23. [27] Suleiman A. S (2006) The Business, Entrepreneurial Renewal Development, Small and Medium Enterprises. Lagos, Longman. [28] Ebosele, Y, and Oyebade, W, (2015) Empowering Women for national development. The Guardian Vol. 32, No 13416, pp: 29731. [29] Ekankumo, B, (2011) Patronage of Transport Firms in Nigeria: A Survey of Factors That Influence Choice of Transport Firms in the Niger Delta. International Journal of Social And Policy Issues 8 (4): 139-148. [30] Ibeenwo, G. I (2015) Entrepreneurship Development and Management in Nigeria. Living Word Press Aba. [31] Kale, Y. (2019) SMEDAN, NBS Push For MSMEs Growth. The Nation, vol. 13, No. 4740, pp: 12. [32] Nweze, C. (2019) NBS, SMEDAN Survey Shows 41.5m MSMEs in Nigeria. The Nation, vol. 13, No. 4728, pp: 37. [33] Sunday, R. J and Miriam, K, (2015) Entrepreneurship, Employment and Sustainable Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences, 4 (1): 179-199. [34] Abdullahi, B, (2012) 67 Million Youths Unemployed Minister, Nigerian Pilot. Vol. 2, No. 154, pp: 127. [35] Kishor, N, and Damania, R, (2007) Improving Governance and Reducing Corruption in the Forest Sector. In J. E Campos, and S, Pradhan (eds). The Many Faces of Corruption: Tracking Vulnerabilities At The Sector Level. The World Bank, Washington, D. C pp: 89-114. [36] Food and Agricultural Organization (2006) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. FAO Forestry Paper 147, FAO, Rome. [37] Acosta, R. T. (1999) Forest Management and Protection: The Philippine Experience. Paper Prepard for the Regional Symposium on Strengthening Cooperation for Forest Law Enforcement in Mekong Basin Countries, Phnom, Penh, Cambodia, June 14-15. [38] Ogbuabor, J. E, Malaolu V. A and Elias, T. I (2013) Small Scale Enterprises, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation in Nigeria: Lessons from Burnt Bricklayers in Benue State. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development. 4 (8): 120–133. [39] World Bank (1996) Nigeria; Poverty in the Midst of Plenty: The Challenge of Growth With Inclusion. Washington, D. C, World Bank. [40] Nwokolo, E, (2019) Fleeing inhabitants of Ogun community return after herdsmen attack. The Nation, Saturday. Vol. 013, No. 4751, pp: 17. [41] Bayari, S, (2019) Herdsmen, farmers and cattle grazing: Whiter Nigeria? The Nation, Vol. 13, No. 4728, pp: 18. [42] Ladepo, A, (2019) The RUGA Fumble. The Nation, vol. 13, No. 4728, pp. 20. [43] Fadare, S, (2019) Saving a cash cow: Cotton farmers, producers urge speedy intervention in ailing textile sector. The Nation, Saturday. Vol. 013, No. 013, pp: 17-18. [44] Sani A (2019) Those opposed to RUGA should come out with acceptable alternatives. The Nation Saturday, Vol. 013, No. 4773, pp: 13, 15, & 20. [45] Runsewe, O, (2019) How culture and Tourism can save African Economy. Runsewe. Saturday Sun., Vol. 16, No. 865, pp: 43. [46] Enyia, A. L. (2019) Reps Summon Brambaifa, Ekere, Alaibe, Others over abandoned NDDC Projects. The Guardian, vol. 36, No. 14882, pp: 3. [47] Ogune, M. (2019) Court remands ex-director over $9.6b judgment debt. The Guardian, vol. 36, No. 14, 882, pp: 3. [48] Obodoeze F. O (1996) Modern Textbook of Research Methodology. Academic Publishing Company. Enugu. [49] Fink A (1998) Conducting Research Literature Review: From Paper to the Internet. Sage. Thousand Oaks. [50] Nwankwo D. C (2011) A Practical Guild to Research Writing for Students of Research Enterprise (Revised Fourth Edition) Port Harcourt. Pam Unique Publishers. [51] Abebrese, A, and Smith, R, (2014) Developing a Phenomenological Understanding of the Influence of Cultural Surviving Mechanisms as Institutional Artifacts in Shaping Indigenous Enterprise Cultures: A Ghanaian Perspective. Amity Business Journals. 3 (1): 11-21. [52] Gujarati, D. N. (2003) Basic Econometrics. 4^th edition. New York, McGraw-Hill. [53] Koutsoyainnis, A, (1977) Theory of Economics Humpshire. Macmillian Education. Ltd. [54] Matawalle, B. (2019) Zamfara to spend N8.6b on RUGA Settlement. The Nation, vol. 13, No. 4783, pp: 42. [55] Okonta, A. (2019) RUGA: Northern Governors Come Up With New Plan. Lumen, vol. IV, No. 013, pp: 6. [56] Adesina, A. (2019^b) Northern Governors Dump RUGA for Livestock Plan. The Nation, vol. 13, No. 4791, pp: 46. [57] Igba, D. I. and Nweke, J. O. (2004) Man In His Environments: (Social and Physical) Enugu. New Generation Books. [58] Adegbite, O. (2019) FG to end exploitation of gold miners. The Nation, Sunday, vol. 14, No. 4786, pp: 7. [59] Oduah, S. (2019) FG Must Sign South-East Development Commission Bill into Law. Lumen, vol. IV, No. 013, pp: 5. [60] Alli, Y. (2019) $9.6b Judgment: P & ID Owner’s Son reaches out to FG. The Nation, Sunday, vol. 14, No. 4786, pp: 1&3.