CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

The world population is currently estimated to have reached 7.2 billion people as of November 2019 (US Census Bureau, 2019). It took over 200, 000 years more to reach 1 billion and only 200 years more to reach 7 billion. World population has experienced continues growth since the end of the Great famine of 1315 to 1317 (Walter et al., 2010). The highest population growth rates -global population increases above 1.8% per year Occurred between 1955 and 1975 peaking to 2.06% between 1965 and 1970 (Population Division-United Nations, 1990). The growth rate has decline to 1.18% between 2010 and 2015 and is projected by the united nation population division to decline further in the course of the 21^st century. The total annual births were highest in the late 1980s at about 139 million, and as of 2011 were expected to remain essentially constant at a level of 135 million. While deaths numbered 56 million per year and were expected to increase to 80 million per year by 2040 (US census Bureau, 2010). As world population is increasing, so does the population of the urban area is increasing too, in fact, we are living in an urban century with most of the world’s population living in urban areas. These population increases in urban areas have given rise to the urban sprawl, which characteristics of most of the world’s cities today.

Urban sprawl or suburban sprawl mainly refers to the unrestricted growth in many urban areas of housing, commercial development, and roads over large expanses of land, with little concern for urban planning. In addition to describing a particular form of urbanization, the term also relates to the social and environmental consequences associated with this development. In Continental Europe the term “peri-urbanisation” is often used to denote similar dynamics and phenomena, although the term urban sprawl is currently being used by the European Environment Agency (Onibokum et al., 2011). There is widespread disagreement about what constitutes sprawl and how to quantify it. For example, some commentators measure sprawl only with the average number of residential units per acre in a given area. But others associate it with decentralization (spread of population without a well-defined centre), discontinuity (leapfrog development, as defined below), segregation of uses, and so forth.

The term urban sprawl is highly politicized, and almost always has negative connotations. It is criticized for causing environmental degradation, intensifying segregation and undermining the vitality of existing urban areas and attacked on aesthetic grounds. Due to the pejorative meaning of the term, few openly support urban sprawl as such. The term has become a rallying cry for managing urban growth (Holden, 2013).

 In the past 50 years, Africa has been experiencing intensive urban sprawl, which has affected the region’s largest and smallest urban centers (Couret al., 1998).  In 1975, the distribution and pattern of Africa’s urban areas were little changed compared to their historical size and extent. These urban areas  (built up areas) comprising towns, or city  were located near land most favorably suited to subsistence cereal farming and to the trans-Saharan trade routes, the region’s main source of wealth in the past (Moriconiet al., 2016). As a result, the Sudanian and Sahelian zones were relatively densely populated, especially the Peanut Basin of Senegal, the central plateau of Burkina Faso, and the Niger–Nigeria agricultural region. Other settlement zones were developed along the coasts of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, as trade in gold and slaves, and eventually tropical products got under way (Couret al, 1998). Independence and the development of market economies, however, brought about a drastic change in the economic landscape, which influenced the urban development pattern of the region. New road networks in the region as well as the emergence of the industrial sector in the cities set in motion a massive shift in the African population toward large urban areas (Moriconi-Ebrardet al, 2016).

Cameroon’s 2019 population is estimated at 25.31 million, up substantially from the 2005 census population of 17.4 million. This makes Cameroon the 54th most populous country in the world and the 17th most populous in Africa itself (united nation population fund, 2017). The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries (National Institute of Statistics, 2019).

Cameroon’s population statistics is surely an indication of the need to address one of the thorny issues affecting the country, urban sprawl. Cameroon’s population growth implies increase urban sprawl which comes with a myriad of problems.

The Northwest Region has many ethnic groups, including immigrants from other regions and countries. Nigeria is well represented, as it borders the region to both the north and the northwest. The native population comprises a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups. The main ethnic groups are of Tikar origin: Tikari, Widikum, Fulani, and Moghamo. The most widely spoken languages in the province include Mungaka, Limbum spoken by the Wimbum people of Donga Mantung Division; Yamba, spoken by the Yamba people also of the Donga Mantung Division; Bafmen, Oku, Lamnso, Ngemba, Pidgin English, Balikumbat, Papiakum, Moghamo, and Nkom. During the colonial period, administrative boundaries were created which cut across ethnic groups and cultures. As a result, parts of some ethnic groups now lie in different divisions and provinces, which are believed to have led to several land conflicts. The Region saw an increase in its population from approximately 1.2 million in 1987 to an estimated 1.8 million in 2010. The population density of 99.12 people per square kilometer is higher than the national average of 22.6. (NIS, 2011)

The city of Bamenda is made up of 3 villages; Mankon,Nkwen, Bamendakwe. However,it is surrounded by other suburban areas and villages like Bambui, Akum, Bafut, Bali, Chombah and Mbatu.This sub urban areas and villages are fast growing and sometimes considered as part of  Bamenda. Bamenda is divided into Bamenda I, II and III. All these three subdivisions that make up the Bamenda metropolis has seen a great increase in their population in recent years which has gone a long way to influence spatial sprawl particularly in Bamenda III which has been witnessing the highest rate of spatial sprawl in recent times because of population growth.

Bamenda III subdivision is exhibiting a steady increase in its population than any of the three Subdivisions that make up the Bamenda metropolis which is a primate city. This increase in population is match by urban sprawl. This is because Bamenda III is a host of many factories, higher institutions. This has accelerated the rate of population growth in the area which has been associated with urban sprawl which has come along with a myriad of problems which this study seeks to address.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Population growth is a process which is continues and it comes with a number of problems. Population growth has aggravated urban sprawl which has led to the development of unplanned settlements in Bamenda III. Bamenda III Sub-Division which is part of the Bamenda metropolis has a master plan which is not strictly followed up for the construction of settlements which has further aggravated the construction of houses on risk  prone zones which may be liable to hazards in future.

With the continues growth in the population in Bamenda III associated with urban sprawl, domestic waste generated has been on a rise with the increase in population and settlements. Because of the inaccessibility of most neighborhoods or quarters, due to poor planning, it is very difficult to collect the waste. The Council does not have adequate waste management system to ensure the appropriate disposal of domestic waste.

Following the rapid population growth rate in Bamenda III, with resulting urban sprawl, the environment is getting its own share of the impact. As the population of Bamenda III Sub-Division is increasing, so is the demand for housing. Settlement development is causing large expanse of wetlands to be reclaimed to give way to land for the construction of houses. These practices have led to the loss of wildlife species, soil erosion and the destruction of water catchment areas.

Bamenda III has witnessed a rapid increase in its population over the years and resulting urban sprawl, but the number of socio-economic infrastructure and facilities to match this population growth and urban sprawl is limited. There are inadequate medical facilities, roads, educational infrastructures and a host of others to support the increasing population and new neighborhoods in Bamenda III.

The unplanned settlement development resulting from rapid population increase and urban sprawl in Bamenda III Sub-Division has led to poor sanitation practice which has led to the proliferation of diseases like cholera, typhoid, Malaria. Most neighborhoods are not planned and so the drainage systems are not the best. These poor drainage systems have created a reservoir for the breathing of mosquitoes which is the cause of malaria to most inhabitants of Bamenda III Sub-Division.

The population of Bamenda III has been increasing as a result of natural increase that is increase birth rate. There is also in-migration of population from other neighboring towns like Ndop, Kumbo, Bali, Nkambe into Bamenda which has swell the population which has gone a long way to aggravate the situation of urban sprawl in Bamenda III.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

With regards to the problems identified, the study intends to address the following main and specific research questions:

1.3.1 Main research Question

How has population growth influenced urban sprawl in Bamenda III over space and time?

1.3.2 Specific research Questions

1) What is the trend of population growth in Bamenda III over time and space?

2) What are the effects of Changes in population and sprawl effects in Bamenda III Sub-Division?

3) What strategies can be put in place to ensure sustainable urban development vis-à-vis rapid population growth in Bamenda III?

1.4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1.4.1 Main research Objective

To examine how population growth has influenced urban sprawl  in Bamenda III Sub-Division over time and space.

1.4.2. Specific research Objectives

1) To examine the trend of population growth in Bamenda III Sub-Division over time and space.

2) To investigate the effects of changes in population growth and urban sprawl in Bamenda III over space and time.

3) To propose possible ways in which sustainable urban development in Bamenda III can be carried out.