UNFPA: Nigeria may hit 400m by 2050 to become world’s most populated nation

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has said Nigeria’s population that is increasing by 3.2 per cent annually, which projects to 216 million in 2022, may hit 400 million by 2050. This will make Nigeria the world’s most populated nation.

Representing the Executive Director, UNFPA Resident Representative, Ulla Mueller, UNFPA Deputy Country Representative, Erika Goldson, made this known yesterday in Abuja at the National Population Commission (NPC) celebration of 2022 World Population Day.

She said African nations are relying on Nigeria to assist in achieving the Sustainable and Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, for the continent.

According to her, “this rapid population increase implies that Africa and global attempts to achieve the SDGs rely heavily on Nigeria’s development. So, my Nigerian compatriots, you have a huge responsibility to lead the African region,” she said.

Chairman, NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, stated that one of the ways to address the challenges of growing population in the country is to have accelerated access to family planning at all service points across communities.

He stated that there is a need to have a quality and healthy population that can contribute to the growth and development of the country.

Kwarra expressed hope that the Commission is working hard to conduct a free, fair, reliable, credible and acceptable census in 2023.

“The current projection at 216 million people could represent 216 million opportunities if aptly harnessed and it could transform the development landscape of our nation.”

“The situation calls for attention on providing quality and sustained investments in health care, particularly in family planning of women and adolescents, transformative and relevant education for growing numbers of children and young people that fits into current and future jobs requirements, housing and decent employment/jobs across successive administrations and governance.

“There is a need to harness the opportunities embedded in our people and establish resilience in addressing the challenges that our rapid population growth poses through accelerated equitable access to family planning at all service points across all communities.

“Therefore, focusing on numbers, underplay the importance of Rights and Choices, necessitating the urgency to shift the conversation from quantity to quality and from liability to creating assets of the people that exist across Nigeria,” the NPC chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra said.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, was represented by the Director Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, and said the Health Ministry remains more committed and has continued to make giant strides towards regulation of fertility in Nigeria.