Nigerian Population SS1 Geography Lesson Note

Population is defined as the number of people living in an area at a particular time. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of over 150 million people.

POPULATION CONCEPTS

1. Overpopulation: This is a situation when a country has more people than its physical and human resources can accommodate. Here, the population exceeds the available resources of the country.
2. Underpopulation: This is a situation when a country has fewer people than its physical and human resources can accommodate. Here, the population is less than the available resources of the country.
3. Optimum population: This is a population which is neither too small nor too great, but when combined with the available resources and given the level of existing technology secures a maximum return per head.
4. Population Density: This refers to the number of persons per square kilometre of land. The population density of a country can be expressed mathematically as

Total Population 

Population density = Land Area

Total population 

= Population density x Total land area

      Total population

Land Area = population density

Example: 

Calculate the population density of Nigeria, having a total population of 88,514,501 with a total land area of 923,768 sq km.

Solution:

Total Population = 88,514,501

Total land area   = 923,768 km

Total population

Population density =    Total land area

= 88,514,501

    923,768

= 96 person / km2 

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION IN NIGERIA

The population of Nigeria is not evenly distributed. There are areas of high, moderate and low population densities. 

1. Areas of high population densities (i.e. above 96 /km2 )

i. The Yoruba Land (Lagos, Ibadan, Akure and Abeokuta)

ii. The Hausa land (Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Sokoto)

iii. The Ibo Land (Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri and Aba)

Reason For High Population Density 

i. Favorable Climate  

ii. Fertile Soil

iii. Natural attachment / Historical factors

iv. Administrative headquarters

v. Employment opportunities 

vi. Presence of minerals

vii. Presence of industries

viii. Presence of social amenities

ix. Commercial activities.

Advantages of High Population Densities

i. Large labour force for industries

ii. Large market for goods

iii. Togetherness

iv. Quick dissemination of information

v. Defence.

Disadvantages of High Population Density

i. Traffic congestion

ii. Pressure on social amenities

iii. Inadequate health services

iv. Environmental pollution

v. Insufficient food

vi. Increase in crime rate

vii. Pressure on natural resources

viii. Unemployment / Underemployment

ix. Development of slums and ghettos.

2. Areas of Moderate Population Densities in Nigeria

i. Benin City

ii. Bauchi

iii. Ilorin

iv. Dutse

v. Kaduna

vi. Uyo

vii. Calabar

viii. Owerri

ix. Bauchi, etc

       3. Areas of Low Population Densities (i.e below 96 persons /km2)

i. The middle belt (Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Abuja)

ii. The Niger Delta area

iii. The extreme northeast of Borno and Yobe States.

Reasons For Low Population Densities

i. Relief especially the presence of rugged relief.

ii. Drainage i.e. the presence of rivers

iii. Unfavorable climate

iv. Poor soils

v. Historical factors e.g. the trans-Sahara slave trade aided the depopulation of the middle belt.

vi. Presence of some insects

vii. Low economic activities

viii. Inaccessibility  

Advantages of Low population

i. Abundant resources

ii. Low crime rate 

iii. Adequate planning

iv. Regular flow of traffic

v. High per capita income

vi. High standard of living

vii. Low pressure on solid amenities

Disadvantages of Low Population

i. Inadequate labor force      

ii. Under-utilization of infrastructures

iii. Deterioration of infrastructures 

iv. Wastage of output

v. Low output

vi. Disincentive to government.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. Draw a sketch map of Nigeria and on it, mark and name:

i. One area of high population densit

ii. One area of low population density

iii. One town in each area shown