Nigeria population at 55

SIR: Please permit me to refer to a portion of the address made by President Mohammadu Buhari to mark the 55th Independence Anniversary celebration: “Our creator has bequeathed to us numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition Arable land, Water forest, Oil and gas Coastline, Solid minerals. We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose.”

I will like to seize the opportunity of reference made by Mr. President on our population to state, with due respect, that our high population as being emphasised by most commentators and media is not advantageous and also importantly is inhibiting our economic growth. Due to high population, Nigeria’s per capita is much lower when compared with that of South Africa having lower population with economy driven by high infrastructure development, industrial and financial sectors.

Currently, our population is estimated at 170 million with annual increase of between 5% – 10%. A country where the rate of its economic progression is not meeting its population growth cannot achieve rapid economic growth. I would like to refer to China as a case in point on this issue of population. As a student in the United Kingdom in the 60s, studying economics, l knew two of the factors that China began to put in place as part of its economic planning, namely, birth control and utilisation of its abundant human labour force on construction works as against use of machinery equipment. The latter was aimed to reduce unemployment.

Whilst we planned to harness our natural endowment, we need also to plan to control high birth rate because failing to do so from now would surely bring undue pressure on provision of infrastructure such as health, schools, housing, food production and employment. Moreover, we must take cognisance of the fact that modern industrial development depends largely on the use of machinery and human labour force.

Furthermore, from family angle, a small family is likely to have a better living standard when compared with a large family of same income. However, as cost of living is increasing, couples would inevitably feel compelled to have small family. But the Government should provide platform to encourage and assist couples through availability of free contraceptives at hospitals and health clinics.

Based on the above, we need policy statement from Mr. President on a renewed Planned Parenthood to be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. The actual execution of the programme must be the responsibility of State and Local Governments. Offices of First Ladies and Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should join the crusade. Also, the advocacy should be extended vigorously to our educational institutions. It should be devoid of religious and cultural sentiments.
B.A. Bakare,
Lagos.