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Why Nigeria’s population may hit 450 million by 2050 – Experts warns
By Francesca Hangeior
Nigeria’s population may rise to 450 million in 2050 if urgent action is not taken to address the growing population, family planning experts have said.
The experts expressed their concerns at a media roundtable on Tuesday ahead of the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other family planning stakeholders in Abuja.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Management Committee, AAFP, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the conference, Dr Ejike Oji, said Nigeria’s fertility rate was high and there was a need to reduce the rate to four per cent.
Ejike, who is also the Nigeria CSO Focal Point FP 2030 stated, “If we continue with the same fertility rate that we have now, our population is going to be driven to 450 million by 2050.
“If we do not bring down our fertility rates, by the year 2050, we will be 450 million, based on the percentage increase every year. Every year, we add about four million people to our population. So if you look at that, you know that it’s going to be a lot of problems for us.”
He further noted, “Remember that the increase is geometric. It’s not that it will stop at four million because there’s a percentage driving it. It’s four million this year; next year, it might be 4.2 million; the following year, it might be 4.5 million; it may get to a point where it might be five million or 10 million every year.”
The gynaecologist referenced China and India, the world’s two most populous countries, as models for managing population growth.
“About 50 years ago, China and India were among the poorest nations. However, today, China is the second-largest economy in the world, and India is rapidly growing.
“Both countries achieved this by lowering their fertility rates and investing in their youth. Nigeria has that opportunity. If we miss it now, if we don’t bring our fertility rate down to four per cent, by the year 2030, we’re going to be in serious trouble.”
Ejike stated that the fertility rate has, however, reduced from 5.3 per cent to 4.8 per cent.
The expert said the forthcoming conference, themed “Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; advancing progress toward achieving FP2030 goals,” will reemphasise the importance of family planning.
Corroborating his statement, the Managing Director of FP 2030 North, West, Central Africa Hub, Dr Martin Migombano, said Nigeria’s population may hit 450 million by 2050 because of the size of the country.
“Also, 28.5 per cent of maternal mortality in the world happens in Nigeria. So there is still a lot that needs to be done by our partners, religious leaders, the government, financial partners who are donors, and others.
“They are all coming to the conference to pledge again and make sure that whatever investments are being made is going to the grassroots, where women actually should access family planning.
“But the key one is how can a woman get access to family planning? How about commodities? How about the education of the population? So, we need all the partners. It’s a collaborative way of working. And again, after two years, we’ll come and assess whether we have made progress again or not, or we are still stagnating,” he said.
A consultant at Amref International, Mrs Ifesinachi Eze said disruptions in family planning and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings leave women with unmet family planning needs, as the disruptions strain the health systems and require collaborative solutions.
“To address these issues, USAID’s Propel Adapt project is developing a private sector engagement guide for FP/RH supply chains in humanitarian settings.
“This guide, created in collaboration with FP2030, supports countries in rapidly assessing private sector capacities, fostering public-private collaborations, and strengthening FP/RH supply chains during emergencies,” she noted.
Eze stated that collaboration is key to maximising impact in the health sector as no organisation can achieve sustainable development alone.
“Governments and the private sector need to work together to create the regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and infrastructure that allow the health sector to thrive,” she added.
Top shots in the executive arm of government, like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) Mallam Lanre Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , Ali Mohammed Ali , were separately put under fire in the Senate during 2025 budget defence sessions .
While the Minister of Finance , Wale Edun and the Minister of Budget and Economic planning , Senator Atiku Bagudu were put on hot seats by the Senate Committee on Appropriation, the DG of NOA and that of NAN , had very tough encounters with the Senate committee on Information and National Orientation .
Trouble came the way of the Minister of Finance when barrage of questions were fired at him by some members of the Appropriation committee on state of implementation of the 2024 budget , particularly the capital component .
Specifically , Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Baichi Central) , in the barrage of questions fired at the Minister , asked him to explain how proceeds from fuel subsidy removal were expended in the 2024 fiscal year .
” What is the budget performance achieved so far , for 2024 fiscal year , particularly in terms of the capital expenditure.
See also FG Approves Loans to Bolster Financial Position
We haven’t heard from the Minister how much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidy and how much has been expended .
“We also haven’t heard from the Ministers about the debt servicing. How much have we actually used to service our debt in 2004?
” How much are we expecting to service the debt in 2005? Finally ,will the Minister of Finance guarantee that the extension of the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025 will give the desired results in terms of implementation that has a very low percentage now ? ”
Apparently unsettled by the question , the Minister hurriedly requested the committee to accord him a close door session for detailed response to the question .
” Are we in a closed door session ? If we are not in a closed door session , i will humbly seek for that for detailed explanations on the questions asked “, he said .
The Committee Chairman , Senator Solomon Olamilekan ( APC Ogun West ) , according asked journalists to excuse them for the closed door session.
Earlier at the budget defence session the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation had with agencies under its purview , the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) , Mallam Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) Ali Mohammed Ali , were ordered to re – draft and re – present their budgetary proposals for 2025 fiscal year .
The committee chaired by Senator kenneth Eze ( APC Ebonyi Central), tackled the NOA DG on the National Identity Project being implemented by the Agency by saying the project is not known to Nigerians , particularly, those residing at the grassroots .
But the NOA DG , held his ground by telling the committee members that the project is very necessary in putting in place , the right value system .
” The challenge we have about value system is about National Identity which is very necessary at galvanising Nigerians for Nation building , national development and growth “, he said .
The Committee however insisted that he should go back for re – drafting programmes of the agency to be captured and appropriated for , in the 2025 fiscal year .
Similar fate also befell the Director General of News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , who was told to go and reconcile disnointed figures presented in the 2024 budget implementation before coming for appropriation of projected figures for 2025 fiscal years .
An Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State has ordered that a 45-year-old primary school teacher, Stella Nwadiggbo, be remanded at a correctional facility for allegedly assaulting a three year old primary school pupil in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The teacher was caught on camera slapping the three year old child in class. The video of the teacher assaulting the child had gone viral.
She was consequently arrested and detained by the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Ikorodu Police Division.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the latest twist stated that Stella Nwadigbo, aged 45, was arraigned on the orders of the State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, for indecent treatment and assault of a child.
Hundeyin stated that the accused was arraigned, on Thursday, at a Magistrate’s Court 1, Ogba.
He stated that the accused had been captured in a viral video indecently treating and assaulting a three-year-old pupil of a primary school in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
“Following receipt of the video, the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Ikorodu Police Division promptly arrested the suspect on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and transferred her to the Gender Unit of the Command Headquarters same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention.”
“The suspect has since been remanded to Kirikiri Correctional facility till February 18, 2025 when the case comes up for continuation of hearing” he added.
Hundeyin further stated that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, commended Nigerians for promptly alerting the police to the situation also, assured them of the ever-readiness of the Command to respond quickly and appropriately to situations towards ensuring the safety and security of resident and visitors to Lagos State.
… but we’re yet to feel the impact now
Director General of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness CCLCA, Dr Gabriel Nwambu has said President Bola Tinubu has showcased excellent salesmanship globally but Nigerians are yet to feel the impact.
Nwambu disclosed this in a chat with TVC where he outlined Tinubu’s moves so far in international relations.
Watch video below:
Budget defense: Senators hammer ministers, top civil servants
Teacher remanded in prison for assaulting 3-year-old child
VIDEO; Nigeria’s foreign relations: So far, Tinubu has showcased good salesmanship-Dr Nwambu
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