Assignment on Problems

and Prospects of Urban

Growth

Written By
Uduakobong Johnson
(16/EV/EM/710)

INTRODUCTION

Urbanization is simply population shift from rural areas to urban areas

which leads to the gradual increase of people living in urban areas in a
geographical region.
This is in no way a new phenomenon, as so many of us living in the urban
areas of the country actually moved from a more rural area. Even some of
us that were born in these areas, have parents that moved away from rural
areas in search of greener pastures.
The simple fact is that the urban areas provide greater opportunities and
we as humans always want to develop ourselves and work for a better
life. When this future seems not to be obtainable in the ‘villages’, we tend
to move to the ‘cities’ in pursuit of our goals. So many factors are
responsible for taking people away from rural areas to urban areas.
Education, job, family, marriage, etc are some of these factors.
Urbanization is inevitable majorly due to technological advances,
increase in population, etc. Hence, urbanization occurs in every country
in the world.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR URBANIZATION

A host of factors are responsible for the rise in population in major cities
in Nigeria. Some of them are:

● SECURITY : Security is one of the major factors influencing the

rise of population in major citie. It is very naturary for people to
migrate to areas where they feel safe and secured and this will
definitely lead to a rise in population in areas where people
perceive safety.

● JOBS: ​The urban areas are industrialized and provide more

opportunities for jobs. Urban centres, due to the presence of social
amenities and infrastructure, attract companies and banks. These in
turn create job opportunities for people which are not available in
the rural areas.

● FAMILY: The migration of people from rural areas to urban areas

is also influenced by family members who have previously
migrated and have become comfortable in these urban centres.
Since they have experienced the good life and opportunities in the
urban areas, they usually send for their family members to join
them.

● MARRIAGE: People in urban areas still go to rural areas to marry

wives because of the presumed hard working nature and good
character of village girls. Also, some people see the need to get
married to girls or men from their place of origin. Marriage is one
of the reasons why people migrate to urban centres from rural
settlements.

● EDUCATION: A vast majority of tertiary institutions are located

in urban areas, which forces teenagers and youths to migrate to
 urban centres to further their education in higher institutions and
even secondary schools. The availability of social infrastructure
and better equipped schools makes the urban areas the preferred
location for education.

PROBLEMS OF URBANIZATION

Urbanization is the shift of population from rural areas to urban areas.

This population shift leads to the following:

1. The increase in population in the urban areas creates uneven

development since more resources are channelled into the urban
centres and an excruciatingly little percentage goes to the rural
areas.

2. The rapid inflow of rural population to urban places gives rise to

housing problems. The first problem is that the number of houses
cannot cater for the increasing population, and urban houses are
sometimes relatively expensive for the immigrants. Slums are
usually then developed in these places.

3. The increase in population in urban centres leads to a rise in

unemployment level. Normally, in the villages, children are born
into families where they learn to farm and can provide food for
themselves and their families. But in the urban areas, actual jobs
have to be sought… hence, unemployment becomes a serious
issue.

4. The rise in unemployment equally raises the poverty level in the

country, as without a source of income, people are forced to live
below what can be considered appropriate.

5. The rise in unemployment and poverty levels creates social vices

such as armed robbery, drugs, etc. The number of criminals
increase in the society, as people start looking for any means to
 survive.

6. The increase in population in urban places pressurizes water and

sanitation facilities leading to health hazards.

7. Also, environmental pollution is a major issue in urban centres due

to the dense concentration of factories and industries. The equally
dense population of people worsens this problem.

8. The decrease in rural population has effects on the agricultural

production, due to shortage in farm workers. This is one of the
reasons for expensive food, due to shortage… and over dependence
on oil.

PROSPECTS OF URBANIZATION

The advantages of urbanization include.

1. GROWTH IN TRADE AND COMMERCE: Due to migration to

areas like Kano and Lagos, these states have become commercial
centres. There has been growth in commerce and trade and the
markets are richly developed. Different people with different
backgrounds, skills and experiences engage in a vast number of
businesses and trade, thus promoting commercial activities in the
country.

2. CULTURAL EXCHANGE: Urbanization creates the avenue for

people of different cultures to mix and learn each other's cultures,
which promotes peace, unity and understanding.

3. RAPID DEVELOPMENT: It is said that rich people only become

richer. This is the case with urban areas. Due to the population
growth, the government invests more in these areas, coupled with
 the investments of residents, making for rapid development in these
areas and the country as a whole.

4. DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM: The beautification of cities is

ensured by urbanization, which makes these cities major tourist
attractions since tourists generally love beautiful places. Hotels
spring up, creating even further businesses, income and job
opportunities.

5. GROWTH IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: One thing that

urbanization brings for sure is labour. Labour moves from rural
areas to urban areas and makes industrial production possible. The
production in various industrial sectors like cement, textile, iron
and steel, fertilizers, etc., are helping in the economic growth of the
country.

​CONCLUSION

Urbanization is an unavoidable occurrence in every part of the world, as

people are constantly in search of greener pastures. It has its advantages
and adds so much to the economy and fosters development, however, the
hazards it creates are alarming. Urbanization should be controlled and
properly managed.