ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF RAPID POPULATION GROWTH ON SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

This study assesses the impact of rapid population growth on socioeconomic challenges in Lagos, Nigeria, with a specific focus on housing shortages, transportation infrastructure, employment opportunities, and environmental degradation. Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities, faces mounting pressure from unregulated population expansion, which strains its already limited urban resources and infrastructure. Anchored on the Malthusian Theory of Population and the Urban Transition Theory, the study provides a theoretical and empirical basis for understanding the complex relationship between population dynamics and urban socioeconomic conditions. A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 400 residents selected from Lagos Island, Mainland (Ikeja and environs), Badagry, and Ojo Local Government Areas. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample size of 400 was determined from a population of 4,850,000, with 392 valid responses analyzed. The findings reveal that rapid population growth significantly contributes to housing shortages, increased traffic congestion, overstretched transportation systems, unemployment, and widespread environmental pollution. Additionally, the study identifies gaps in urban planning and policy enforcement that exacerbate these challenges. The study concludes that without coordinated and data-driven urban planning, Lagos risks facing deeper socioeconomic inequalities and environmental degradation. It recommends robust policy interventions focused on sustainable housing development, transportation expansion, job creation, and improved environmental management to mitigate the adverse effects of population growth.