Demographic Patterns and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

The present demographic patterns in Africa, including Nigeria, do not augur well for the achievement of sustainable development. Nigeria is characterised by high fertility rate, low mortality rate and an increasing rural-urban migration which are not really considered in the planning for sustainable development. Using data from the period 1980 to 2011, it was discovered that the population of Nigeria increased at the rate of 3.2% per annum. The fertility and mortality rate declined from 6.5 to 5.4 and from 127 to 78 respectively. Nigeria has witnessed rapid urbanisation leading to increasing demand for infrastructural facilities. The paper recommends the need for polices that will sustain the environment through increase in savings and reduction in current level of degradation so as to cater for the future generation