NIGERIA'S POPULATION; A PLAGUE OR A BLESSING?

According to UNFPA reports, Nigeria is the sixth most populated nation in the
world after China, India, USA, Indonesia and Brazil. Statistics by experts show
that by 2040, Nigerias population growth would have quadrupled without
commensurate amenities and employment to sustain it.
At his valedictory speech to the media, the immediate past Chairman of the
National Population Commission, on the 26th of October 2011 advocated
that all levels of governance should focus on nation-building initatives, with a
view to expanding public infrastructure in proportion to growth in population,
thereby avoiding social crisis in the future. He also stressed the fact that an
early preparation for the 2016 census in the country is very necessary
considering the fact that a three-year preparation is needed. In that light the
past Chairman of the National Population Commission drew the attention of
everybody to the fact that in 4 years time the country's population will be
estimated at about 188 million and 221 million by 2020.
Nigeria has a growth rate of 3.2 percent which to demographers, is
exponential at best. This type of growth rate can lead to population explosion
and that will translate to more unemployment and poverty on the streets of
this great Nation.
Last october, the United Nations announced the global population had
breached seven billion and would expand rapidly for decades, taxing natural
resources, if countries cannot better manage the growth.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, alarmed governments have begun to act, often
reversing longstanding policies that encouraged or accepted large

families. Nigeria made contraceptives free last year, and officials are
promoting smaller families as a key to

economic salvation, holding up the financial gains in nations like Thailand as

inspiration. Nigeria, already the worlds sixth most populous nation with 167
million people, is a crucial test case, since its success or failure at bringing
down birthrates will have an outsized influence on the worlds population. If
this large nation rich with oil cannot control its growth, what hope is there for
the many smaller poorer countries?

Peter Ogunjuyigbe, a demographer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,

was quoted as saying; "Population is key. If you dont take care of
population, schools cant cope, hospitals cant cope, theres not enough
housing theres nothing you can do to have economic development."
An expert in population issues has warned of dire consequences of
uncontrollable population explosion in Nigeria, saying that if not checked, it
will create more problems than expected in future. Speaking on the issue in
Lagos, Country Director, DKT International Nigeria, Mr. Dimos Sakellaridis,
said in the event that Nigerias population continues its growth without
check, a time would come when the massive population would be
unmanageable. Nigeria currently has an estimated population of 167million
people and with the current growth rate, the population will be 450 milluion
by 2050.
A major concern about this rapidly growing population is the fact that jobs,
national infrastructures, social services, housing, health care facilities are not
also growing at an equally comparable rate or at a faster rate like her
population growth rate does. It's a matter of time before the country
becomes too small to contain the volcanic explosion of people threatening to
destroy her relative calm.