The National Population Commission (NPC) has restated its commitment to manage Nigeria’s estimated population of over 216 million for economic growth and sustainable development.
The commitment was made following the release by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs which put the global population at 8 billion.
In a statement signed by the Director Public Affairs, NPC, Isiaka Yahaya, quoted the UN release to have projected India as the most populous country in 2023, surpassing China.
The press statement said the Chairman of the Commission, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra noted that despite Nigeria’s huge size, its population remains its greatest asset in the development process and a veritable tool for the realization of the country’s demographic dividend.
According to the statement, Nigeria recently launched the revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development (NPPSD) which has the overall goal of improving the life and standard of living for all Nigerians.
It also stresses need for urgent measures to address Nigeria’s high fertility rate, through expanding access to modern contraceptive methods across the country, calling on governments at all levels, traditional institutions, religious leaders, organized private sectors to support the effective implementation of the National Population Policy.
“To provide institutional basis for the implementation of the NPPSD, the National Council on Population Management under the Chairmanship of President Muhammadu, GCFR has been established and composed of the Vice President, Senate President and Ministers of relevant government ministries and agency.
“The Population Advisory Group (PAG) headed by the Chairman of the NPC and key stakeholders has also been inaugurated.
“Effective implementation and monitoring of the National Population Policy requires accurate and reliable population data on the size and characteristics of the national population”, it stated.
The statement added that with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census at advance stage, there was hope that the results of the 2023 Census will provide the basis for evidenced based implementation of the policy.
The statement also solicited support of stakeholders at national and sub national levels as well as development partners for the conduct of the 2023 Census in terms of resource mobilization, massive sensitization of the populace, technical and logistics support.
“With the huge deployment of technology through the digital mapping of the country, use of satellite imageries and Personal Digital Assistants, on-line recruitment of ad-hoc personnel, the Commission is poised to deliver the first fully digital and transformative census in Nigeria for the sustainable development” the statement said.
