Population Growth, Environmental Degradation And Human Health In Nigeria

As the human population doubles every few decades, so its impact on the environment increases at a faster rate. Humans cannot escape the law of population growth; when population increases, the resources required for its sustenance also increases, therefore man has made a remarkable impact on the environment primarily through the use of natural resources and production of wastes. This paper examines the impact of population growth in Nigeria on the environment and the attendant result on human health. Rapid human population growth has been identified as underlying environmental problems in the country. The paper recommends measures to limit rapidly growing population as well as strategies to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment. KEYWORDS: Population; Growth; Environment; Degradation; Health