- High Fertility Rate Threatens Development Goals, Say Experts
- Family Planning Conference to Address Urgent Population Challenges
Experts have raised alarm over Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, warning it could surge to 450 million by 2050 if immediate action is not taken to address high fertility rates.
The concerns were expressed on Tuesday at a media roundtable preceding the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference. The event was organized by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ejike Oji, Chairman of the AAFP Management Committee and Local Organising Committee for the conference, emphasized the urgent need to reduce Nigeria’s fertility rate, which currently stands at 4.8 percent, from a previous rate of 5.3 percent.
“If we continue with the current fertility rate, our population will reach 450 million by 2050,” Ejike warned. “Each year, we add about four million people, and this number increases geometrically. This rapid growth will strain our resources and create serious socio-economic challenges.”
He noted that lessons could be drawn from China and India, two of the world’s most populous nations, which reduced their fertility rates and invested in their youth to transform their economies. “Nigeria has a similar opportunity, but if we miss it, the consequences will be dire by 2030,” he added.
Family Planning Conference and Goals
The upcoming conference, themed “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; Advancing Progress Toward Achieving FP2030 Goals”, aims to reaffirm the critical role of family planning in national development.
Dr. Martin Migombano, Managing Director of the FP2030 North, West, and Central Africa Hub, highlighted the broader implications of Nigeria’s population growth. “Nigeria accounts for 28.5 percent of global maternal mortality,” he said, urging coordinated efforts from stakeholders, including religious leaders, donors, and the government, to improve access to family planning services.
Mrs. Ifesinachi Eze, a consultant at Amref International, pointed out the disruptions in family planning services during humanitarian crises. She emphasized the need for collaborative solutions, including USAID’s Propel Adapt project, which is developing a private sector engagement guide to strengthen supply chains in emergency settings.
Eze stressed that collaboration between governments, private sectors, and international organizations is vital to building sustainable health systems. “No organization can achieve development goals alone. Governments and private sectors must work together to create the frameworks and incentives needed for progress,” she said.
As Nigeria faces the dual challenges of population growth and strained health resources, the conference will provide an avenue for stakeholders to pledge renewed commitments and assess progress toward achieving the FP2030 goals.
