Nigeria’s demographic future hangs in the balance as over 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 30, according to the National Population Commission (NPC).

The commission said the situation could either bring about a massive development opportunity or become a ticking time bomb, depending on what the country does next.

Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at a press briefing to mark the 2025 World Population Day (WPD) with the theme: ‘Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World’.

Kwarra described Nigeria as standing on the brink of a transformative opportunity and a significant challenge that demands strategic and coordinated action.

“Our youthful and vibrant population has the potential to be a powerful driver of national development. However, to harness this promise, we must address the structural barriers that limit young people’s ability to make informed and voluntary decisions about their lives, livelihoods, and reproductive choices,” he said.

Kwarra noted that widespread youth unemployment, limited access to quality education and healthcare, gender-based discrimination, and social marginalisation were threatening to turn the demographic dividend into a crisis.

“Far too many of our young people face multiple constraints. These realities threaten to turn our potential demographic dividend into a demographic burden if left unaddressed,” he warned.

MEANWHILE, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, and development partners, the Commission launched digital registration points in hospitals and communities across Nigeria. The efforts are already enhancing planning for child health services, school enrollment, and social protection programs.

The second strategy is the implementation of Nigeria’s first fully digital population and housing census, a landmark exercise that will collect granular data on age, gender, education, housing, and access to services, among others.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Nigeria, Mr Koessan Kuawu, echoed the urgency of supporting youth reproductive choices with policy and action, not judgment.

“We must create an environment where young people are supported, not blamed for their fertility decisions,” he said.