A Review of The Negative Effects of Urban Population Growth in Nigeria

Abstract

The negative effects of urban population growth in Nigeria results from two major factors which are rural-urban migration and natural population increase. The aim of the study is to investigate the negative effects of urban population growth in Nigeria. The aim was achieved by reviewing the effects of urban population growth on health, environment, socio-economic and waste generation. The study revealed that urban population growth caused by high rate of rural-urban drift, has resulted in various problems such as, unemployment, poverty, floods, squatter settlements, health issues, pollution (land, air, noise, water and visual), slums, overpopulation, traffic congestion, improper disposal of wastes, crimes, and food insecurity inter alia. There is high rural-urban drift in Nigeria because of the inequalities, in terms of infrastructural facilities, services, social amenities and heterogeneity economic activities in favor of urban centers. I recommend that there is a need to review various laws in charge of environmental in charge of environmental management in Nigeria like National environmental standards regulation enforcement agency (NESREA), federal environmental protection agency (FEPA) and other legislation concerned with environmental monitoring. The laws should be more effective in terms of compliance, enforcement and penalty.

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