Planning with data generated over nineteen years ago is capable of reversing Nigeria’s demographic dividends to a demographic burden for the country.
The Chairman National Population Commission, Isa Kwarra, said this during an event to commemorate the 2025 World Population Day in Abuja.
He explained that most government institutions still draw up their plans using outdated figures leading to wide gap in the infrastructure, education and Healthcare development in Nigeria.
Nigeria has continuously witnessed population growth that has brought about the bulging youthful population in the country.
Economic planners in the country appear to have paid deaf ears to the warning of a possible population explosion which if not properly managed could become a demographic burden to the country
The chairman of the National Population Commission, Isa Kwarra, said planning with current data will bridge the gap of inadequate healthcare services, education and employment among the younger population.
The UNFPA’s country Deputy Director, Koessan Kuawu, said the conduct of a national population and housing census in Nigeria is already overdue but promised to partner the Nigerian government to ensure a credible national census that will generate accurate, reliable and all inclusive data for national planning.
The theme for the 2025 World Population Day which is “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world” underscores the reality of body autonomy for women and girls and the urgent need for huge investment in education, Youths employment, family planning and reproductive healthcare services in Nigeria.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
