Overpopulation in Nigeria
What is overpopulation?
Overpopulation is when the number of people in an area exceed the amount of resources available or the capacity of the area.
In 2013 Nigeria had a population of 175 million. Nigeria occupies only 3% of Africa but is home to over 15% of its people.
Problems in Nigeria caused by overpopulation
Not enough housing in Kano
Pollution of air and water in Port Harcourt
Shortage of food and water in Yola
High crime rates in Jos
Not enough health care and schools in Ibadan
Congested roads in Lagos
"...public utilities cannot cope with the number of people who need to use them." - Lonely PLanet
Poverty
Life in Lagos
"...it has wall-to-wall people, bumper-to-bumper cars...tin-and-cardboard shacks..." - Lonely Planet
"The maze of shacks on stilts...across the filthy water's surface...a slum that serves as a warning..." - Gulf News, 30 october 2011
"The gutter that runs in front of his entrance gate is constantly filled with rubbish made up of soggy paper, bulging black nylon bags, and empty water bottles." - Osun Defender
"At its heart it is a dump that recycles drums containing toxic waste" - Channel 4 news
Slums
A slum is a densely populated area that doesn't meet adequate living conditions
The people that do have housing live in constant fear that they're going to be evicted or lose their home
Some healthcare systems don't even had proper doctors with medical degrees but sympathetic people that try and help
Wages have gone so low that people, even young boys result to violence to get money or sell drugs for money
Nigeria is the biggest single footprint of urban poverty
"I fight them" is what a little boy said when he was asked what he would do if people didn't give him money - Channel 4 News
People live in toxic waste dumps which contaminate the water and air quality
Also known as favela
More than one family living in a small living area
Congested roads with bad traffic and cars speeding when they can
There are also Mega Slums -- > When the population in slums are increasing
Slums are described as dangerous
In slums people build houses in the most squalid of landscapes
Trash is dumped anywhere and everywhere with contaminated water and air pollution
As of 2023, Nigeria's population is over 230 million, making it the most populous country in Africa
Nigerias population growth is among the highest globally with an annual growth of 2.5-3%
Nigeria has a population density of 230 people per square kilometer
Other Social Problems
Children not going to school because there isn't money
Lack of education
Lack of infastructure
Men and young boys sleeping and living under a motorway
intersection because they don't have a place to sleep
The "wage puzzle"
Wages in Nigeria dropped so low that people wondered how they survived
Unemployed men
High Crime rates
Young boys fighting and killing each other for money
Men and young boys resorting to selling drugs because of insufficient pay
"Street Hawking" absorbs 90% of African Workers
Street Hawking is when people wander the streets in hopes that someone will buy what they have
Lack of jobs
So many people fighting for the same position leaves many without a proper job
Working all day for almost 25 pents
Children work to help their families
Life in Lagos is bad and dangerous, most people, if not all live in slums and are in constant fear of getting evicted. The living conditions are poor and the ones fortunate enough to get a house are surrounded by trash and filth.