The structural adjustment programme and the elderly in Nigeria

The article analyzes the impact of recent economic changes accompanying the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and ongoing cultural styles on the aged in Nigeria. It argues that during the one decade preceding the introduction of SAP in 1986, Nigeria experienced significant social and economic transformations made possible by the rise in oil prices in the 1970s. The introduction of SAP has also been accompanied by significant social, cultural, and economic changes. Here the effects of these changes on the situation of the elderly in Nigeria are examined using data pooled from observations and surveys in both the pre- and post-SAP years. Findings reveal that compared to the younger generations, the relative position of the elderly has not changed significantly, although the latter's position has deteriorated on dimensions such as access to economic and health resources. Regional and individual differentials in the situation of old people are significant during both the pre- and post-SAP era.