Urban Issues and Challenges Flashcards
What is urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the growth in the proportion of people living in urban areas.
Name the two reasons for urbanisation, e.g. in Lagos, Nigeria
Rural-urban migration
Natural increase
What are the push factors in rural-urban migration (e.g. from rural Nigeria)?
- wages are poor in rural areas
- large scale pollution of areas such as the Niger delta by oil production
- Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation
- Severe drought in the North of Nigeria
- High rates of natural increase put strain on land services
- Increase mechanisation of farming forces workers out
What are the pull factors in rural-urban migration (e.g. to Lagos)?
- More jobs in urban areas, which are often better paid
- Better healthcare and education (29 mortality rate in Lagos as opposed to 69 in Kano)
- Good travel connections in Lagos
- Expanding economy in Lagos
- 98% of Lagos’ children are in education: there are over 11,000 primary schools, over 2,000 secondary schools and 5 universities
Why is Lagos important regionally, nationally and internationally?
Lagos is the biggest city in Africa, with a population over 14 million.
Regionally, the large migrant population increases cultural diversity, and it is well connected to major towns.
Nationally, Lagos is home to 80% of Nigeria’s industry.
Internationally, Lagos is the main financial centre of the whole of West Africa with the 5th largest economy on the continent. The international port and airport are important for global trade.
What social opportunities does Lagos provide?
Lagos has better access to services and resources than rural Nigeria:
- More hospitals
- Almost 90% of children attend primary school as opposed to 60% in rural areas.
- Lagos has much better access to electricity.
- There are water treatment plants, providing safe water.
What are the economic opportunities that Lagos has to offer?
- Incomes can be four times higher in Lagos than in rural Nigeria.
- Rapid growth results in many construction jobs, such as building the new commercial centre the Eko Atlantic.
- Lagos is home to many of the county’s banks, government departments and manufacturing industries. There are also two major ports and a growing fishing industry.
- Lagos has a thriving film industry, ‘Nollywood’
What are the problems caused by the rapid growth in Lagos?
The house construction couldn’t keep up with Lagos’ population growth, and increasing house prices made them too costly for many people. As a result, 66% of people in Lagos live in illegal settlements.
Only about 40% of the city is connected to the state water supply.
Up to 15 households must share one toilet.
Lagos doesn’t have enough electricity to power the whole city at once.
There aren’t enough jobs for the growing population – 60% of the population work in informal jobs, not legally protected.
There are high levels of crime – many slums are controlled by gangs, such as Makoko.
The huge population produces over 9000 tonnes of waste a day, and only 40% of rubbish is officially collected and there are large rubbish dumps.
Emissions from factories are not controlled, leading to air and water pollution.
There is bad traffic congestion , leading to 2-hour commutes in some areas.
Describe an urban planning scheme improving quality of life in Lagos.
In 2013, the Makoko floating school prototype was built to give some of the poorest children in Lagos access to free education.
The building of these schools can be built and replicated by unskilled workers, providing easy jobs.
Up to 100 students each can be educated for free.
The space can also be used for community meetings and activities.
The education improves local children’s job prospects.
Jobs are provided to teachers locally.
The school is sustainable: it runs on solar panels, and harvests rainwater.
What are the positive impacts of migration in Birmingham?
- Large variety of cultures bring a rich variety of food culture, such as the Balti Triangle.
- Diverse religions create new architecture as well as new festivals.
- Migration has in some ways brought tolerance of other social groups.
What are the negative impacts of migration in Birmingham?
- Social segregation creates social tension: the race riots took place on the 22nd and 23rd of October in 2005, caused by tension between the Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities.
What are the opportunities of living in a major city such as Birmingham?
- Ethnic diversity
- 5 universities
- Transport links
- One of the greenest cities: 500 parks
- Largest number of businesses and start ups outside of London
What are the challenges of living in a major city such as Birmingham?
- Deindustrialisation can lead to derelict land
- Deindustrialisation leads to unemployment
- Birmingham has a range of ethnicities which are often segregated
Describe the urban greening going on in Birmingham.
- ‘Green walls’ have been created: the ‘Green Screen’ is a green wall along the A38 which will reduce air pollution and improve aesthetics
- Green roofs are planted on the flat roofs of flats or industrial buildings
- Existing green spaces are linked via hedgerows
What social and economic opportunities are there in Birmingham?
The centre of Birmingham has recently seen new recreational centres: Symphony Hall, Central Library, Utilita Indoor Arena and Sea Life
In 2022, Birmingham hosted the commonwealth games: this brought in over 5 million people, created 4,500 jobs, and lifted the economy by £1.2 billion.
