Population Growth, Urbanization, and Insecurity in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between population growth, urbanization, and insecurity in Cross River State, Nigeria, using quantitative data from a 27-item questionnaire administered in six purposively selected local government areas: Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Yakurr, Ikom, Obanlikwu, and Obudu. Drawing on the frustration-aggression and Boserupian hypotheses, the study posited that rapid population growth drives urbanization, maintaining certain pull factors over push factors. This leads to the expansion of geographic areas, resulting in conditions such as unemployment, inflation, high living costs, financial difficulties, unstable jobs, lack of capital, limited educational opportunities, inadequate health and sanitation, and housing and income inequality, all of which contribute to insecurity. The data were analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The findings revealed a strong significant relationship between population growth, urbanization, and insecurity in Cross River State. The study concluded that insecurity is a reflection of a deep-seated crisis of development, fuelled by unchecked population growth and urbanization, which creates an environment conducive to poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and inequality. It recommends the development and careful implementation of policies and programs that address the root causes of insecurity, with a strong political will for their implementation.