Population Growth And Poverty: Nigeria

Nigeria is a country with abundant resources and the potential to be a very powerful nation, but it is hampered by many problems. These problems are caused by Nigeria’s colonization by England. Because of this intrusion on their way of life, their future was altered dramatically. The nation of Nigeria as a whole has suffered greatly as a country because of this colonization, its problem is rooted in the way it was colonized and ruled.

Thesis: The topic of human population growth is an important issue due to its impacts upon people in developing countries, economics, religion, food production, and the environment; without any limitations, population growth can lead to negative consequences, such as famine and environmental destruction, or even positive outcomes, such as potential economic growth.

Perhaps one of the most pressing issues faced by women in Many African countries today are the many barriers preventing them from having access to sexual health and family planning services. “The World Health Organization (WHO) defines family planning as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility” (Tessema, Gizachew Assefa, 2). By examining the causes of what is preventing women in areas Africa from taking control of their sexual health, and the number of children they wish to have, possible solutions can be contrived. In Kenya for example, “20.9 percent

There are about 16.6 million people living in Nigeria. Nigeria has the world’s highest fertility rate but the life expectancy is about fifty years. It is estimated that in about thirty years, the population would grow to about fifty million people living in the country of Nigeria alone. This will cause water irrigation and food supply issues because there are more mouths to feed. Another issue facing Nigeria is the spread of HIV. As men travel, women would supply men with condoms to pass around to other men they may encounter to counter HIV. Drought also is an environmental disaster facing Nigeria and its plant life. People would chop trees down for a living and soon, there were not enough trees to supply the number of people demanding them. Droughts are becoming more common in the area. Before they would come every ten years but now, droughts are coming every three years if not

The main reason women want birth control is to prevent pregnancy. During the course of just nine years, the amount of women that wanted birth control to prevent pregnancy jumped from 716 million to over 850 million(“ThinkProgress”). Not only are women hesitant to have children because of poverty, but also because of fatal deliveries. For instance, some African countries, such as Nigeria, have very poor maternal conditions. Moreover, according to NPR, in a lot of third world countries where there is overpopulation, “studies show higher risks of premature birth, pregnancy complications and delivery problems, as well as higher death rates.”

The main reason women want birth control is to prevent pregnancy. During the course of just nine years, the amount of women that wanted birth control to prevent pregnancy jumped from 716 million to over 850 million(“ThinkProgress”). Not only are women hesitant to have children because of poverty, but also because of fatal deliveries. For instance, some African countries, such as Nigeria, have very poor maternal conditions. Moreover, according to NPR, in a lot of third world countries where there is overpopulation, “studies show higher risks of premature birth, pregnancy complications and delivery problems, as well as higher death rates.”

Nigeria’s population has multiplied over four times in the past 65 years going from 40 to 170 million people. This may not seem like a lot of people compared to countries like China and India, but we must remember that Nigeria is only roughly the size of Texas. It is crazy to think that a country that small accounts for one-sixth the population of the whole continent of Africa. It is estimated that by 2050 the Nigerian population will reach 390 million and in 2100 climb to 545 million. However, some people doubt Nigeria can continue to support that many people, even at the bare minimum level, for that long. Overpopulation is quickly becoming a very real issue in Nigeria and for years the Nigerian government, with help from the rest of the world, has searched for

Sinding (2009) saw that argues that countries representing the last development frontier, especially those of Sub-Saharan Africa, can be advised to incorporate policies and programs to reduce high fertility in their economic development strategies.

Africa has a total fertility rate (TFR) of 5.2 children per woman, a problem that is

But the death rate exceeds the birth rate, which triggers the population increasing very slowly or almost stable. In this stage, birth rate becomes high due to less use of contraception and sterilization. Most of the people do survive in agriculture where the children are considered as economic assets and so people are encouraged to get many children. Similarly death rate becomes high due to diseases, natural calamities, wars, etc. Infant death rate is also found very high. Because of poor health facilities provided by the state to the people, lack of clean water and sanitation and food shortage, health of the people will be weak so that the people will depart the life in high numbers. Before 1920, China and India were at this stage (Raj, H. 2003). This stage is generally found in the countries where people depend on agriculture as a main source of surviving. At present, the countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Angola, etc. are passing through this stage (Raj, H.2003)

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the country and its environs. Nigeria a former British Colony, located in the western part of Africa, it shares borders with Benin, Cameroun, and Niger. A growing population of 150million, labour force of 51million (70% Agriculture, 10% industry and 20% service), urbanisation is less than 40%, GDP is over $300billion, Per capita income is $2300. Nigeria is blessed with different cultures, languages and ethnic groups (252 in total); this was due to the colonization of the British in the early 19th century (Columbia Encyclopaedia). The British amalgamated its protectorates in 1914 to enable stable control and governance which made them create one Nation of Nigeria formed from all the groups, community and empires around the Niger area under their control. Nigeria had her independence on the 1st of October 1960 and since then various civil wars, political and religious unrest in the country to share power and resources amicably.

Family size is also a huge contributor to the population catastrophe. Generally, a family in this region is consisted of around five to six children (Bridge). The reason for women to bare so many children is because of the high risk of infant mortality. Since children’s health has improved in the 1980’s, women continued to have the same number of kids. However, more lived, which then pushed fertility rates even higher (World Religions, Environment, Development 233). In order for Sub Saharan to stabilize their flourishing

Overpopulation, this is so with any society that largely depends on agriculture, African families are often very large. Most of the elderly rely on their children for support, and as much agriculture in Africa is labor-intensive, large numbers of children provide much needed labor for plowing, planting and harvesting. However, overpopulation is a serious problem in urban areas, which have grown enormously since the beginnings of African independence in the in the late 1950s and later. For example, in 1960, 14.5% of Nigeria's population lived in urban areas, that number had grown to 43% by 2000, and is growing at an estimated 5.5% per year, compared to a 2.9% national population growth rate. This is a trend that can be seen throughout the continent.

Poverty is a major menace to humanity existence in recent times majorly in the third world countries; it is one of the greatest threats to stability and peace more than other tussles like terrorism. The Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations to eradicate poverty everywhere in all its form and ensure quality education by 2030 shows the global commitment to ensure a higher standard of living for mankind.

The World Bank says that overpopulation is the main inhibitor of development, because governments do not have the capital necessary to provide for large populations of people and work on capitalistic economic growth. This