In a city like Port Harcourt, where wealth and poverty coexist in a strikingly sharp contrast, the question, “Is poverty a choice?” carries a weight heavier than it might in other places. Skyscrapers rise above informal settlements, luxury cars glide past struggling street vendors, and the air buzzes with a paradoxical mix of ambition and resignation. Yet, amidst this backdrop, it would be simplistic—even insensitive—to suggest that poverty is merely the result of personal choices.
Poverty is often painted as a consequence of laziness, poor decisions, or a lack of ambition. While personal responsibility plays a role in financial outcomes, such reasoning overlooks the deeply entrenched systemic, social, and political factors that perpetuate poverty. In Nigeria, corruption siphons resources meant for public welfare into private pockets, leaving healthcare systems broken, education underfunded, and infrastructure in decay. How does one choose prosperity in an environment rigged against upward mobility?

Consider the child born in an underserved community in Port Harcourt. Their education is subpar because schools lack funding, teachers are underpaid, and resources are inadequate. Their healthcare is compromised because public hospitals are poorly equipped. They grow up watching their parents fight tooth and nail to make ends meet, often engaging in menial jobs that barely put food on the table. In such circumstances, survival becomes the priority, not long-term planning or wealth creation. Can we honestly say this child has the same choices as one born into privilege?
The illusion of choice also ignores how historical inequalities shape current realities. Decades of poor governance, economic mismanagement, and environmental degradation—especially in the oil-rich Niger Delta—have left entire communities trapped in cycles of poverty. Oil spills have destroyed farmlands and water bodies, eroding not just the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen but also their dignity and hope. The wealth extracted from these lands rarely trickles down to the people who bear the environmental costs. Is it fair, then, to ask if poverty is a choice when systemic failures create conditions where prosperity feels unattainable?

Yet, there are individuals who defy the odds, rising from poverty to success. Their stories are often paraded as proof that poverty is escapable with enough hard work and determination. But these narratives, while inspiring, are the exception rather than the rule. For every success story, there are countless others who remain trapped despite equal or greater effort. Poverty is not merely about individual willpower; it is about access to opportunities, fair systems, and social safety nets.
This is not to say personal responsibility has no place in the discussion. Poor financial choices, substance abuse, or a defeatist mindset can exacerbate poverty. However, focusing solely on these factors absolves society of its responsibility to create an enabling environment where people can thrive. Government policies must address inequality head-on, ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities. Corporations must practise corporate social responsibility in meaningful ways, and communities must foster a culture of accountability and collective progress.

Blaming the poor for their poverty is a convenient narrative for those who benefit from the status quo. It shifts attention away from systemic failures and focuses it on the individual. But if we are to have an honest conversation about poverty in Port Harcourt, in Nigeria, and beyond, we must acknowledge that the roots of poverty are deeply embedded in structures far beyond personal control.
Poverty is not a choice. It is often the result of a series of choices made by those in power—choices that prioritise profit over people, greed over fairness, and short-term gain over long-term prosperity. Until these systems are challenged and reformed, the question will remain not whether poverty is a choice, but why we continue to allow systems that make it feel like one.

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