Abstract
The disparity in both population and wealth distribution in Nigeria by geo-political zones is well recognized. There is also the recognition that some of the environmental problems in certain sections of the country can be attributed to the imbalance in both population and wealth distribution. Hence the various agitations for environmental resource control in the country. What is lacking however is the research that shows the magnitude of the linkages between the disparity and the environmental degradation in regional context. This provides the basis for this research. To achieve the aim of the research, a STIRPAT model was employed as an analytical tool. The findings show that the southern geopolitical zones are generally more densely populated and wealthier than the northern zones. The south is also experiencing a higher degree of environmental resource degradation attributable to anthropogenic factors. Thus, there is congruence between population density, wealth distribution and environmental degradation in Nigeria. Therefore the achievement of sustainable environment and development in Nigeria requires deliberate policies to mitigate the impact of population concentration and wealth creation on the environment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boserup, E. (1965). The conditions of agricultural growth: The economies of agricultural change under population pressure. London: Allen and Unwin .
Boserup, E. (1980) Population and technological change: A study of long-term trends. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Dietz, T., & Rosa, E. A. (1994). Rethinking the environmental impacts of population, affluence and technology. Human Ecology Review, 1, 277–300.
Dietz, T., & Rosa, E. A. (1997). Effects of population and affluence on CO2 emissions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 94, 175–179.
Dietz, T., York, R., & Rosa, E. A. (2001). Ecological democracy and sustainable development. (Paper presented at the 2001 open meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Research Community; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 2001).
Erhlich, P., & Holdren, J. (1972). A bulletin dialogue on the closing circle: Critique: One dimensional ecology. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 29(5), 16–27.
Erubami, M., & Young, I. R. (2003). Nigerian social and economic inequality in its global context. CHRRD Research Review No 2. Ibadan: Centre for Human Right Research and Development.
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2003). Nigeria’s first national commission under the United Nations framework convention on climate change. Abuja: Federal Ministry of Environment.
Gallup, J. L., Gaviria, A, & Lora, E. (2003). Is Geography destiny? Lessons from Latin America. New York: Inter-America Development Bank.
Gans, O. & Jost, F. (2005). Decomposing the impact of population growth on environmental deterioration. Discussion Paper Series No. 422. Department of Economics, University of Heidelberg.
Madu, I. A. (2001). Participatory community-driving action programme for integrated and sustainable coastal development in Nigeria. In P. C. Onokala, P. O. Phil- Eze, & I. A. Madu (Eds.). Environment and poverty in Nigeria (pp. 176–194). Enugu: Jamoe.
Madu, I. A. (2002). Geography and socio-economic development in Nigeria. Journal of Arts and Social Science Review, 1(2), 58–68.
Madu, I. A. (2005). Rural land use change in south eastern Nigeria: evidence and environmental consequences. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 4(1–2), 27–32.
Madu, I. A. (2006). Population distribution, disparity in living standards and environmental resource degradation in Nigeria. A paper presented at international conference on infrastructure and the environment, Sheraton Hotel Abuja September 10–15.
Mantu, I. (2001). Implication of population growth for the Nigerian economy and the environment. Abuja: Olive de L’ Afrique consult.
Merem, E. (2005). The agroforstry systems of West Africa: The case of Nigeria. AFTA 2005 Conference Proceedings.
National Population Commission (NPC) (1998). 1991 population census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Analytical report at the national level. Abuja: NPC.
National Research Council (1999). Human dimensions of global environmental change: research pathways for the next decades. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
National Science Academy (1993). Science summit on world population: A joint statement by 58 of the World’s Sciences Academies.
Nwafor, J. C. (2006). Environmental Impact Assessment for sustainable Development: The Nigeria perspective. Enugu: Environment and Development Policy Centre for Africa (EDPCA).
Nwafor, J. C., & Madu, I. A. (2002). Issues in population and rural development. Enugu: Fulladu Publishing Company.
Ofomata, G. E. K. (2001). Missing links in the management of soil erosion problems in Nigeria. In G. E. K. Ofomata, & P. O. Phil-Eze (Eds.). Geographical Perspectives on Environmental Problems and Management in Nigeria (pp. 258–283). Enugu: Jamo Enterprises.
Okafor, F. C. (1991). Population pressure, agricultural change and environmental consequences in South Eastern Nigeria. New York: Social Science Council.
Population Information Network (POPIN) (1994). Population, development and environment: An NGO position paper. Cairo: International Conference on Population and Development.
Rosa, E. A., & Dietz, T. (1998). Climate change and society: speculation, construction and scientific investigation. International Society, 13(4), 421–455.
Rosa, E. A., & York, R. (2002) Internal and external sources of environmental impacts: A comparative analysis of the EU with other nation’s groupings. Paper presented to the conference on The European Union in International Affairs, National Europe centre, Australian National University. 3–4 July).
Sahn, D., & Stifel, D. (2001). Exploring alternative measures of welfare in absence of expenditure data. Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program. Working paper No 97. New York, Ithaca.
Salvatore, M., Pozzi, F., Aarman, E., Huddleston, B., & Bloise, M. (2005). Mapping Global urban and rural population distributions. Rome: FAO.
Souza, R. M., Williams, J. S, & Meyerson, F. A. B. (2003). Critical links; population, health and the environment. Population Bulletin Vol. 58 No 3. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.
UNFPA (1992). Population Issues: Briefing Kit. New York: United Nations Population Fund.
Vision 2010 Report (1997). Ecology and environment. Abuja: Vision 2010 Committee.
World Bank (2000). Cities in transition: World Bank urban and local government strategy. Washington, DC: The World Bank Infrastructure Group.
World Bank (2005). The little data book. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
York, R., Rosa, E., & Dietz, T. (2003). STIRPAT, IPAT and IMPACT: Analytical tools for unpacking the driving forces of environmental impacts. Ecological Economics, 46, 351–365.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Madu, I.A. The environmental impacts of regional disparity in population and wealth distribution in Nigeria . Environ Dev Sustain 11, 265–276 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-007-9109-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-007-9109-0