Population Growth and Environmental Quality in Nigeria

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between population growth and environmental quality in Nigeria. In the course of this investigation, population growth was dissected into two, namely rural and urban population. The data used in this study ranged between 1981 and 2022. Environmental quality (proxied by CO2 Emission) was used as the dependent variable. Variables such as urban population growth, rural population growth, real GDP per capita, and renewable energy consumption were used as independent variables. The Philip-Perron test and the ARDL Bound techniques were employed in the study. From the various findings, rural population growth does not have a significant effect on environmental quality in Nigeria, in both the short-run and long-run. It was also discovered that Environmental Kuznets Hypothesis (EKC) exists in Nigeria, based on available data and the time of this study. From the recommendations given, Nigeria has the potential to improve environmental quality through local investment and consumption of renewable energy resources, population control, and other measures that increase awareness for energy mix transition in Nigeria as a developing country. Creating awareness about the grave importance of energy mix transition in rural area is also paramount in Nigeria at this time.