President Muhammadu Buhari introduced the Revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address Nigeria’s high fertility rate by increasing access to modern contraceptive methods across the country.
The President also established the National Council on Population Management, which he will chair and the Vice President would serve as deputy chairman, with representatives from appropriate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
On Thursday, Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, issued a statement titled ‘Nigeria Seeks Urgent Measures to Address High Fertility Rate as President Buhari Launches Revised Population Policy.’
Speaking in Abuja about the country’s updated population policy, President Buhari stated that the main goal was to improve the quality of life and standard of living for all Nigerians, which was one of his administration’s major goals.
peaking on the country’s revised population policy in Abuja, the President said its overall goal was to improve the quality of life and standards of living of all Nigerians, which was one of the major aspirations of his administration.
“This will enable Nigeria to achieve rapid fertility control, improve the health of women, adolescents, newborns and children, and other population groups.”
Buhari noted that Nigeria’s population, which was the largest in Africa, seventh globally and among the few whose fertility is still growing, was hinged on a youthful population, with more than 72 percent of them being below 30 years while half of the female population are in their reproductive years (15-49 years).
“These levels have implications for sustained population growth and narrowed prospects to achieving population management, facilitating sufficient demographic transition, harnessing our demographic endowment and eventually realizing sustainable development,” he said.
On other highlights of the revised population policy, the President explained that it underscored the importance of investing in quality education of young people (particularly girls), human capital development, and advancing the holistic effort to achieve significant demographic transition.
He said, “The Revised Population Policy is rich with all necessary information that will guide the implementation of Nigeria’s Mid-term and Perspective Development Plan.
“It will further address concerns of the large population of young people who are our pride, our future and assets to drive our development efforts.”