Population dynamics and infrastructure: meeting the millennium development goals in Ondo State, Nigeria

Population has become an important research issue because its consideration has significant implications for change, development and quality of life in the society. Infrastructure such as water, transport, drainage and sanitation on the other hand have been recognized on the other hand as critical to ensure the quality of living and sustainable urban development in contemporary times. This paper examines the change in population growth of Ondo state with a view to determining the extent at which infrastructure in the study area has been improved on and what will be required to meet the MDGs for infrastructural development. The paper discusses the consequences of inadequate infrastructure in Ondo state as well as identifies how the MDGs targets can be achieved to reduced urban poverty in Africa. Data utilized in the study were derived systematic survey of household characteristics, indicators of accessibility to basic infrastructure in the city. Population figures were obtained from National Population Commission and distribution of regular households by main characteristics of infrastructure during the last census (2006) in Ondo State. The study showed that as typical of a Nigerian State, majority of the residents of Ondo state do not have access to basic infrastructure

COMBATING INFANT MORTALITY IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA: NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Improve sanitation and health delivery has become an important issue because of it significant implication of quality of life in the society. This paper examines the effect of poor sanitation on infant mortality and effort of both government and individual at combating the menace. Demographic records of the Ibadan North LGA from 2006 to 2010 and perceptions of the people were obtained from Focused Group Discussions, with mothers of between 15 and 49 years at 6 purposively selected residential areas. Analysis of the demographic records shows that the study area, whose average total population was 306,795 as at 2006 national census recorded about 1431 infant deaths. The study indicates that poor sanitation attitude of the residents of the LGA were the reason of high infant mortality. The study therefore concludes that infant mortality can be reduced to the barest minimum if good sanitation is mandated for each household by the relevant local authorities

Spatio-Temporal Factors and Dynamics of Population Growth in Ondo State Nigeria (1970-2010)

Everyone is aware of space and place, of change over time and since everything exists in space and time, population is not an exception. This paper examines the influences of time on population growth and space. The study adopts both descriptive and quantitative statics and relied on secondary data source as a major means of data collection. The findings reveal that there is positive relationship between population growth and time and population density varies from area to area within the state. The practical implication of this study is that it provides an answer to whether population varies over time and space. Over the years Ondo state has witnessed increase in population. The implication of this increase in population in relation to space is overpopulation resulting to congestion in areas that are densely populated

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING INFANT MORTALITY IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGERIA

The Local government area (LGA) in Nigeria is the third level of governance and closest to the rural and mostly poor population, with relatively higher records of infant mortality than the urban population. objective of this study is to examine the effect of living and environmental condition on infant mortality in a typical LGA Nigeria, as a case study of the Ibadan North LGA from 2006 to 2010 and perceptions of the people were obtained from Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) with mothers of between 15 and 49 years at 6 purposively selected residential areas. Analysis of the demographic records shows that the local government, whose average total population was 306,795 as at 1431 infant deaths. The number of infant deat variance based on differences in certain housing/environmental characteristics of selected districts, especially sanitation and waste management concerns (r <0.05). The study indicates that inadequate toilet facilities and poor was were the bane of high infant mortality there. The that infant mortality can be reduced to the barest minimum if good toilet facilities are mandated for each household by the rele and good waste management approach is adopte

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF URBAN RENEWAL ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN OGUN STATE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Urban renewal has always been undertaken to clean up and beautify a city in accordance with a prescribed new layout plan. Many unintended consequences, especially forceful evictions and internal displacement of persons however, usually accompany such exercises. This paper aims to examine the socio-economic and health implications of urban renewal for residents of Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. In the last five years, massive urban renewal programs have been implemented in five local government areas (LGAs) in the State: Abeokuta North, Ado/Odo Ota, Sagamu, Yewa South and Ijebu Ode from which two (Abeokuta North and Ado-Odo/Ota) were purposively selected for this study. Primary data was obtained through administration of questionnaires to 380 randomly selected affected adults with demolished houses or shops, and analysed using logistic regression. The results indicated that urban renewal had a significant negative impact on the occupation (odds ratio = 3.0; p < 0.01) and income (p < 0.01) of affected persons. Urban renewal had also significantly affected the health status of respondents because those whose houses or shops were demolished were 12 times more likely to suffer depression from loss of sleep (odds ratio= 12.08; p<0.01), loss of appetite (p<0.01) and feelings of hopelessness (p<0.01). It is therefore recommended that urban renewal in Nigeria should be more holistic (cater for the needs of people who are likely to be affected and get them involved from start to finish before demolition) to avoid these associated side effects

Unemployment in Nigeria; A Challenge of Demographic Change?

With the current population of approximately 182million people (PRB, 2015); Nigeria is the most populous Black Country in the world. Arguments are ripe whether her ever-growing population is the sole factor responsible also for her continuous growth of unemployment. To answer this question, this paper extracted secondary data from Population Reference Bureau (PRB, 2003-2015), United Nations Annex Table (2012), International Monetary Fund (IMF, 2002-2015) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2003-2015) to prove whether unemployment is mainly caused by demographic change in Nigeria or there are other intrinsic factors responsible for this social challenge. A comparative analysis of the population and unemployment structure of three purposively selected and heavily populated countries in three different continents-Nigeria, China and USA were undertaken. Results show that population growth is not the SOLE factor responsible for increase in unemployment in Nigeria as unemployment statistics is stable for U.S. and China while their populations are growing, but the reverse is the case for Nigeria as both population and unemployment are growing. Recommendations were thereafter made to address other likely factors identified