Population Pressure on Land Resources in Nigeria: The Past and Projected Outcome

Abstract

Aims: This paper assesses the population pressure on land resources in Nigeria: The past and projected outcome.
 Study Design: 1967 to 2068 time series data were used. The data sets were resorted to due to lack of complete national data.
 Place and Duration of Study: Past (1967-2017) and projected (2018-2068) five decades in Nigeria.
 Methodology: The time series data were obtained from the United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, National Population Commission, International Energy Statistics and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on population levels, renewable and non renewable resources in Nigeria. Others such as transformity were adapted from Odum (1996) and Odum (2000) for specific objectives. Data collected were analyzed using modified ecological footprint/carrying capacity approach, descriptive statistics and Z-statistics.
 Results: Results showed that the mean annual pressure on land resources in the past five decades (1967-2017) was 9.323 hectares per capita, while the projected pressure in the next five decades (2018-2068) was 213.178 hectares per capita. Results also showed that about 73.08 percent of the pressure per capita in the past five decades emanated from arable land consumption (6.813ha), while 75.91percent of the pressure is expected to emanate from fossil land in the next projected five decades due to crude oil and mineral resource exploration and exploitation. The carrying capacity of land resources in the past five decades was 6.4091 hectares per capita, while that of the projected five decades was 1.667 hectares per capita, an indication of ecological overshoot in both periods.
 Conclusion: Population pressures on land resources per capita in the past and projected five decades are higher than the carrying capacity of these resources in the country. Citizens lived and are expected to live unsustainably by depleting and degrading available land resources. Arable land consumption is the major contributor to the total pressure on land resources in the past five decades, while the consumption of fossil land due to exploration and exploitation of crude oil and mineral resources is expected to contribute majorly to the total pressure on land resources in the next five decades. Limiting affluence (per capita consumption of resources) and improving technology will not only ensure sustainable use of arable and fossil lands but place consumption within the limits of these resources for a sustainable future.

Evidence of Climate and Environmental Change in Nigeria: Synthesis from the Driving Force, Pressure, State, Impact and Response (DPSIR) Framework

“…Nigeria currently has the world's seventh largest population, and it is the second fastest growing after India, so it is expected to overtake India as the third largest by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau, 2018). In their study showed that the mean annual pressure on land resources in Nigeria in the past five decades (1967-2017) was 9.323 hectares per capita, while the projected pressure in the next five decades (2018-2068) was 213.178 hectares per capita (Eririogu et al, 2020). This results implies that about 73.08 percent of the pressure per capita in the past five decades emanated from arable land consumption (6.813ha), while 75.91percent of the pressure is expected to emanate from fossil land in the next projected five decades due to crude oil and mineral resource exploration and exploitation.…”

“…This results implies that about 73.08 percent of the pressure per capita in the past five decades emanated from arable land consumption (6.813ha), while 75.91percent of the pressure is expected to emanate from fossil land in the next projected five decades due to crude oil and mineral resource exploration and exploitation. This signals a reduction in carrying capacity from 6.4091 hectares per capita to 1.667 hectares per capita (2018-2068) (Eririogu et al, 2020). Moreover, the ability of land for agriculture has deteriorated as population demand on arable land has increased.…”

“…Drought and desertification and the migrating sand dunes have buried large expanse of arable lands, thus reducing viable agricultural lands and crops' production (Eririogu et al, 2020). This has prompted massive emigration and resettlement of people to areas less threatened by desertification.…”

“…The worst impact is population displacement, which may result in communal crisis. The coastal inundation and erosion with their associated population displacement are currently major environmental problems in Nembe, Eket and other coastal settlements in Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, and Lagos States of Nigeria (Eririogu et al, 2020). It is estimated that a metre rise in sea level will displace about 14 million people from the coastal areas of Nigeria (Sayne, 2011).…”