CHAPTER ONE
1.0  INTRODUCTION
Over population is a very big threat to the socio-economic development of any given country most especially when the available resources is no where to carter for the needs and yearnings of the people coupled with bad leadership and governance or political instability as found in our country Nigeria. In the present day National Development pace, it is obvious to say that one of the biggest problems faced by any government of the country is the question of how to be able to extend its developmental projects and activities to all angles and entire members of the country, and their failure to do this, bring about negative influences and criticism to such a government or regime and also poses some constraints to the development of the country and yet the Nigeria’s population keeps increasing beyond the control of the government, as a result of these, Nigeria has been characterized with low standard of living, low quality of education, lack of social welfare packages, low per-capital income among others which are very harmful to the socio-economic development of the country and its reputation in the international communities.
1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Today, population has become one of the most controversial factors that are always given a special consideration in the socio-economic developmental plan of every country in the world. As many countries of the world may have different levels of population, our country Nigeria has been re-cognized world wide as one of the most populated countries of the world. But all the same, it is important to point out here that the level of the population of any country must have both negative and positive on the developmental level of such a country.
Population in Nigeria is always used in the allocation of seats and many other developmental benefits and consideration which has now made our population census to becomes a very strong political instrument used by various ethnic groups in achieving their political objectives.
1.2STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
The Nigeria’s over population has brought about many problems in the country which if not checked on time, may turn the country into a hell fire. The problems include:
1.    The rate of the growth of the Nigeria’s population has made the members of the country to begin to wonder if it could ever be controlled again.
2.    There is a high level of environment pollution in the country.
3.    The standard of living and education is speedily decreasing while the cost of living is also increasing.
4.    In the town where this project research is focused, people greatly suffer the problem of scarcity of residential housing accommodation.
5.    There is now a high level of social vices in the country.
6.    There is now a high level of outbreak of disease resulting from the congestion in our roads, houses etc.
7.    The rate at which the population increase has strictly refused to respond positively to all the strategies applied by the government towards its control and management.