Question One

Nigeria, located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, is one of the populous countries in Africa. It has a population of about 199 million and ranks seventh on the global population scale (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). The country occupies a land area of 923,768 km² (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). Given its vast population size, Nigeria’s population density is 217.55 people per km² (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). The high fertility rate accounts for the country’s rapidly growing population. World Bank estimates reveal that the nation’s birth rate is 36.9 births per 1,000 people while the death rate is 12.4 per 1,000 people. Thus, as of 2017, population growth rate was2.43% (“Nigeria,” n.d.). Despite this, the country has a relatively low average life expectancy of 54.5 years (“Nigeria Population,” 2018).

Nigeria has a unique age composition. The median age of its population is 18.4 years (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). About 42.5% of the entire population is below 14. An estimated 19.6% comprises of citizens aged 15-24 years. People aged between 25 and 54 years make up over 30%. Nigerians aged 55 years and above comprise over 7% of the population (“Nigeria Age Structure,” 2018). Slightly over half of the citizens live in urban areas. Nigeria has a net migration rate of -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 persons(“Nigeria,” n.d.). It has a unique migration pattern due to its vast population size and economic activities. The country is in the second stage of the demographic transition, which is marked by a decline in death rates, while the number of births remains high.

The Nigerian population is increasing rapidly. UN’s projections indicate that the total Nigerian population will rise to over 400 million people by 2050 (“Nigeria Population,” n.d.). The anticipated increase arises from the annual percentage change ranging between 2.04% and 2.62%(“Nigeria Population,” n.d.). If the current growth pattern continues, Nigeria will become the third most populated nation in the world by 2050 (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2017). With such a vast population, the density will increase to approximately 450 persons per km² (“Nigeria Population,” n.d.). Presently, over 52% of the Nigerian population resides in urban centers. The citizens move rural to urban areas in pursuit of employment opportunities and better social amenities. Should similar rural to urban migration trends persist, 72% of the entire populace will settle in urban areas (“Nigeria Population,” n.d.).

Question Two

One of the most pressing challenges that the Nigerian government faces is addressing the adverse consequences of rapid population growth in the country. The available resources are not sufficient to cater to the needs of the continuously increasing community. For instance, Nigeria has a high crime rate. Incidents of armed muggings, assaults, burglaries, carjacking, rape, and kidnappings are common in the region. The Nigeria Police Force operates at a ratio of 1:600 citizens (“Agency Report,” 2017). The U.N recommends a policing ratio of1:400 persons. Thus, the low police officer per unit population makes it challenging to curb crime. The economic growth and development of the nation also rely on its ability to meet the needs of the citizens. The country has experienced a significant rise in population over the past six decades (“Nigeria Population,” n.d.). Besides, forecasts show that the numbers will rise even higher; thus, the strain on resources will increase by 2050.

Another challenge that the Nigerian government faces is the provision of healthcare services to a rapidly growing population. Various shortcomings in the sector have contributed to high mortality rates in Nigeria. For instance, there is a high prevalence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). Given its vast population size, it has a significant impact on public health, welfare, and the economy. The high population density and unhealthy living conditions impact transmission. Nigeria records high numbers of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths (“Nigeria,” 2019). Other health risks that affect the residents include illnesses such as polio and pregnancy complications (“Nigeria Population,” 2018). However, these health issues are likely to decrease by 2050due to the numerous improvements in healthcare provision.

Question Three

The government of Nigeria enacted a critical population policy aimed at improving the quality of life for the citizens. The leaders hoped to control population growth through the provision of affordable family planning services and free contraceptives to the people (Ajayi, Adeniyi,& Akpan, 2018). The purpose of the initiative is to help childbearing women to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Besides, knowledge acquired in family planning programs is necessary to change the perception of the communities on the use of contraceptives. There is relatively low use of modern contraception across the population (Ajayi et al., 2018). However, the activities of agencies such as the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) have had a considerable impact on the use of family planning services. Thus, the government, as well as the agency, strives to increase access to family planning services by offering free, standard methods of contraception.

References

Agency Report. Nigeria needs additional 31,000 new police officers yearly for five years. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/243898-nigeria-needs-additional-31000-new-police-officers-yearly-five-years-igp.html

Ajayi, A. I., Adeniyi, O. V., &Akpan, W. N. (2018). Use of traditional and modern contraceptives among childbearing women: Findings from mixed methods study in two southwestern Nigerian states. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 604.doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5522-6

Nigeria. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/nigeria

Nigeria age structure. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.indexmundi.com/nigeria/age_structure.html

Nigeria population. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/nigeria-population/

Nigeria population 2019. (2018). Retrieved from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/nigeria-population/

Nigeria. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.migrationpolicy.org/country-resource/nigeria

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2017). World population prospects: The 2017 revision, key findings, and advance tables. Working PaperNo. ESA/P/WP/248. New York, NY: United Nations.https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf

 
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