City Growth: Issues and Challenges of Urban Sustainability in Nigeria
A PAPER PRESENTATION AT THE THE 46th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTION OF ESTATE SURVEYORS & VALUERS AT TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA ON 13th APRIL 2016
PRESENTED BY
ESV. ROWLAND E. ABONTA FNIVS, RSV, KSC.
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT (NIESV)
INTRODUCTION
The entire world today is facing the twin challenges of rapid rate of urbanization and geometric population growth.
Currently, about 54% of the world population live in urban centers with a projection to increase to 66% by year 2050. (DESA 2014).
It has been projected that India, China and Nigeria will record the largest urban growth between 2014 and 2050, accounting for about 37% of the projected growth of the world’s urban population:
- India 404 Million Urban dwellers.
- China 292 Million Urban dwellers.
- Nigeria 212 Million Urban dwellers (DESA 2014)
As at year 2014, the world urban population went from 746 Million in 1950 to 3.9B. out of a world population of 7.39B.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and has the following details;
- Population of over 167 Million with over 50% living in cities.
- A land mass of 923,768 square kilometers.
- An administrative structure of 36 states + Federal Capital Territory and 774 local government areas.
- In the 70s Nigeria probably recorded the fastest urbanization rate in the world with the advent of the oil boom and the after effect of the civil war.
- Between 1970 – 1980 urban population had risen from 16% to 20% of the nation’s population.
- In 1986, urban population growth rate rose to an average of 6% per annum.
- By 2004, Nigeria had 843 urban centers with about 6 of them having population of over 1 Million people, the threshold for a city.
- By 2010, Nigerian urban population had risen to about 40% of the total population.
- As at year 2014, Nigeria had not less than 10 major cities.
- In 2015, the number of Nigerians living in the cities were estimated to be well over 55% of the nation’s population. (National office of Statistics)
THE CONCEPT OF CITY GROWTH
Cities are conglomeration of urban centers made up of communities and settlements with specific population, physical and economic features which vary from city to city.
City growth can be defined in 3 perspectives:
- The Economic Growth- rise in productivity in terms of products, services and income.
- The Increase in Population- Due to natural increase and rural-urban migration.
- The Geographical Expansion of the City- In terms of land area and development.
An urban area is said to be growing rapidly if the rate of urban growth is higher than the national population growth rate.
Other theories of city growth include;
- Location Theory by Johann Heinrich Von Thunen: This theory states that the location of resources, markets or transport leads to the development and growth of cities by attracting people and other commercial activities to such location to settle or trade
- Agglomeration Economies Theory by Gunnar Myrdal: This theory postulates that the advantages of clustering/concentration of markets for sales, labour and variety of goods and services attract people and industries to cities thereby bringing about city growth.
- Central Place Theory by Walter Christaller; this is a growth resulting from an increase in the demand for the services that the city performs for the adjoining settlements which populations are growing. This is responsible for how different cities are arranged in an urban system.
Good examples are the relationship between Lagos/Ibadan, Lagos/Ota, Abuja/Suleja in Niger State, Abuja/Keffi in Nasarawa State, Abuja/Kaduna and Onitsha/ Awka.
THE KEY DRIVERS OF CITY GROWTH
In Nigeria the key drivers responsible for the high rate of urbanization include;
- Government Policies on creation of new states/Local Governments with state capitals and creation of new towns.
- Natural population increase due to high birth and low mortality rates.
- Neglect of the development of rural and local government areas by government at all levels.
- Rural – Urban Migration in search of white collar jobs and better living conditions.
- Urban – Urban Migration due to insecurity, tribal and religious conflicts across the nation.
- Good transportation system.
- Housing provision
- Provision of good amenities and services.
- Agglomeration effect.
- Technological advancement and industrialization.
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