Spotlight On Increased Urbanisation In Africa

NEWS BANJUL, (MB)- While rapid population growth has had a significant impact on the
environment leading to increased pressures on the limited resources
and aggravating the problems of unemployment, the rate at which
urbanisation increases is causing a lot of strains on social services.
The increasing urbanisation is causing problems for the social
services in many parts of Africa, and has leads many countries to
rising of urban poverty. However, some outcomes are severe strains on
housing and health, water supplies as well as on the necessary
environment management in many parts of the continent. The worst
incidence of poverty of urban poverty can be spotted in many large
towns and cities in the region.
 Notwithstanding, it has been also documented that the HIV
prevalence rate is higher in growth centre. Also to be taking into
account is that a large number of migrants have settle in the urban
centres where there exists limited employment opportunities an social
amenities.
It is suffice to say that many urban based youths in Africa are now
venturing into skilled jobs such as carpentry, welding, driving, and
tailoring just to name but a few. On the other side of the coin, those
without these skills can be found busy at car parks, struggling daily
to make ends meet. This is necessary for their day to day survival-
they cannot stay a day without some cash in their pockets. Their
situation has led to petty thefts in many busy areas in our large
towns and cities.
The urban youth unemployment rate is very in the continent, which the
problem has become burning issues for many nations. The problem of
youth unemployment in Africa is a cause that all of is aware of from
the top executive down to the playing children in our homes.
 However, for youths who are not academically oriented, like most of
our rural youths, travelling to Europe through the back way is one
outlet they have, and which they have been making use of. It is our
view that the solutions to the problem require, among others, taking
initiatives that are innovative for the youth folks.
 Again, from urbanisation and migration perspectives, one would find
out that internal migration is an important factor in the distribution
of population in The Gambia. In urban areas, there are strong
incentives for the rural-urban drift because of perceive available
opportunities such as employment. For the rural- urban migration, on
the other hand, has also caused scarcity of labour in some areas and
has at the same time increased the size of the non-food producers in
many part of Africa, particularly in urban areas.
 This trend has made farm lands in urban areas to be used for
residential purposes and for other physical infrastructure
development. Farm lands have been reduced in the wake of rapid
population growth resulting mainly from immigration. It is a hard fact
that in this urban population many young girls are sexually active,
which has leads to the prevalence of unwanted teenage pregnancies and
to baby dumping.
 The increased in population is also accompanied by a corresponding
increase in the amount of waste generated in the form of sewage and
solid waste which, if properly managed or disposed can create serious
health and environment problems. e.g. contamination of ground water
resources, among other problems. Thus, such rapid growth has
contributed to the present level of poverty in many countries in
Africa.