Since the return of democratic governance in 1999, poverty alleviation has remained a dominant theme in Nigeria’s development discourse. Successive governments have launched various poverty reduction programmes such as NAPEP, SURE-P, and the National Social Investment Programme. However, rather than lifting citizens out of poverty, these policies have largely served as instruments of political patronage and elite enrichment. This paper examines the politics behind poverty reduction in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023, highlighting how corruption, weak institutions, and elite capture have undermined genuine efforts at economic inclusion. Using a qualitative approach anchored on the Resource Curse Theory, the study finds that poverty alleviation in Nigeria has been politicized and weaponized by the ruling elite to consolidate power rather than empower the masses. The paper concludes that for poverty reduction to be effective, Nigeria must promote institutional transparency, citizens’ participation, and equitable distribution of resources.