Nigeria moving towards demographic crisis, expert warns

A family planning expert, Dr. Ejike Oji, has warned that Nigeria is itching towards demographic crisis, following the wide margin between it’s population Growth Rate and the National Development Index.

Oji, who is the Chairman, Management Committee of the Association for Advancement of Family Planning, spoke at a media roundtable on the upcoming 5th Nigeria Family Planning Conference.

According to him, Nigeria is already exhibiting the characteristics of a country in demographic crisis, in line with the dictates of demographers.

He cited the conditions to include nationals killing nationals, a greater number of the population being youthful and unemployed, and if most of the nationals, skilled or unskilled, are immigrating.

Oji explained that the unprecedented increase of Nigeria’s population by 58million in 12 years portends great danger for the country.

He said the population growth rate of 3.2 per cent is far below National Development index, which means that the population is increasing every year, even as the country is getting poorer.

He stressed the need for increased investment in family planning to slow down the population growth rate.

The expert referred to the World Bank report that the country is currently the headquarters of poverty in the world with 80million poor people.

He expressed concern that it is an indication that Nigeria has truly overtaken India, despite the fact that India has more population with over 1.3billion people.

Oji lamented that Nigeria has a huge dependent population and to reap the dividends of this population, there is the need to slow the birthFrom Akin Alofetekun, Minna rate, invest massively in the youths, and improve the health sector.

He also stressed the need to provide appropriate education to the youths and create spaces for them to have jobs, adding that if this is done, Nigeria could take control in the whole African Continent.