Highlight

Nigeria’s population becoming a demographic nightmare, say TI, CISLAC

Quoting data from UNICEF, Rafsanjani disclosed that over 50 percent of girls are not attending school at the basic education level, while 1,000,000 girls drop out between the first and last year of primary school.

1.5k

Transparency International (TI) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have stated that Nigeria’s population is on the verge of becoming a demographic nightmare.

By 2050, they predicted that 400 million people would live in Nigeria, Persecondnews reports.

Speaking at the Population Conversation Seminar on Tuesday, which was hosted by Population Matters UK in collaboration with CISLAC and Transparency International (TI), Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa, also known as Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of TI in Nigeria, advocated lowering the birth rate as a means of addressing the looming population explosion.

He said: “The same burning desire for sustainable growth was brought to the fore in this foremost groundbreaking gathering themed, the Nigeria Population Conversation Seminar by Population Matters UK and CISLAC/TI-Nigeria. We are delighted to take the lead in this process.

“While population affects every facet of societal development, discussion around population remains uncommon in Nigeria, and this puts Nigeria’s population, which is projected to reach 400 million by 2050, doubling the current estimate, at a demographic nightmare.

“We cannot conceal the fact that, with the current inadequate awareness of the consequences of population at the citizenry and policy levels, as well as the unattended impact on national planning, Nigeria has not efficiently harnessed its population to achieve development goals.

“This fact has been buttressed by the multiplier effects of youth unemployment, insecurity, inaccessible healthcare services, food insecurity, education inequality, and other challenges that undermine the socio-economic development of Nigeria.”

Quoting data from UNICEF, Rafsanjani disclosed that over 50 percent of girls are not attending school at the basic education level, while 1,000,000 girls drop out between the first and last year of primary school.

He added that Nigeria accounts for 20 percent of all out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa, with close to 20 million out-of-school children.

“While a significant function of girl child education in Nigeria is to provide her with diverse basic knowledge, skills, and training that contribute to personal development and overall national development, more than 50 percent of girls are not attending school at the basic education level, while 1 million girls drop out between the first and last year of primary school (UNICEF).

“In addition, Nigeria accounts for 20 percent of all out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly 20 million out-of-school children.

“Likewise, in Nigeria, about 53.40 percent of youths are unemployed, according to youth unemployment rates released by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2022.

“This again exposes our country to most of the social crimes perpetuated by youths, including the accelerated level of prostitution, armed robbery, rape, and all facets of violence, which can be largely attributed to the incidence of youth unemployment.

“Given this background, we cannot deny the fact that the time has come for Nigerians to begin to embrace the idea of smaller families to boycott ravaging poverty, youth unemployment, child mortality, and other socio-economic upheavals.

“As a result, the Nigeria Population Conversation project is necessitated by the need to engender people-oriented participation and harvest perceptions on population to shape policy direction for well-informed national planning to achieve the overall demographic advantage for sustainable development,” Rafsanjani said.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

House of Reps appoints new deputy chief whip

Following the passing away of former Deputy Chief Whip Adewunmi Onanuga, the...

Alleged N20bln fraud: Court grants Ex-AMCON boss, Kuru N50m bail, adjourns until March 7

Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja,...

Updated: CBN Increases ATM Fees, Scraps Free Withdrawal Policy

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant revision to...

Africa Must Prioritize Energy Access Amid Global Transition, says Petroleum Minister Lokpobiri

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has said...

Reps Call for Military Intervention in Borno Communities Amid Boko Haram Resurgence

Following recent Boko Haram attacks that left scores of people killed and...

Flying Eagles Return to Camp for Egypt Friendlies Ahead of U20 AFCON

Ahead of AFCON, Nigeria’s U20 boys and seven-time African champions, the Flying...

Unresolved crisis: PDP suffers another defection as House of Reps member joins APC

Rep. Amos Magaji (Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency, Kaduna) of the Federal House...

Three weeks after vandalism, TCN begins repairs of Abuja transmission line

Three weeks after vandals damaged an underground transmission line near Millennium Park...

Daniel Bwala opens up on his past vociferous criticism of Tinubu’s govt.

Mr. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications,...

Supreme Court ruling fails to resolve Rivers Assembly leadership crisis

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision...

Nigeria Sees Significant Growth in Non-Oil Exports, Reaching $5.45 Billion in 2024

Nigeria’s non-oil exports have seen a significant boost, reaching $5.45 billion in...

Ogun plans large-scale ranching project to boost meat production

Ogun Gov. Dapo Abiodun, has unveiled plans to set up ranching facilities,...

Nigeria’s business sector sees uptick in January, indicating economic recovery

Nigerian businesses kicked off in the new year on a positive note,...

FG Unveils Diaspora City Project to Foster Connections with Nigerians Abroad

In a bid to reconnect with Nigerians abroad to their roots, the...

NAFDAC cracks down on counterfeit medicines, seizes fake drugs in Anambra market

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched...

CONMESS: South-West clinical lecturers begin indefinite strike

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), South-West Zone, has...

Nigerian Army Cracks Down on Oil Thieves, Destroys 24 Illegal Refineries

The Nigerian Army has dealt a significant blow to oil thieves in...

Just in: Supreme Court reserves judgement on appeal seeking to nullify Rivers LG poll

A five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji of the Supreme Court...

Just in: Atiku leads PDP heavyweights in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo in Abeokuta

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation to meet with his...

Just in: Supreme Court dismisses Gov. Fubara’s suit against 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers

The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by Rivers Gov. Siminalayi...