The federal government of Nigeria has said that there is need to regulate fertility and birth rate in the country to achieve sustainable development.
Daily Trust quotes the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire as having said this in Abuja on Thursday July 28, at the celebration of the World Population Day, organised by the National Population Commission (NPC).
Ehanire who was represented by Director, Family Health, Salma Ibrahim Anas, said it would be difficult for Nigeria to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals with current 5.3 fertilty average in the country.
According to him, “We must regulate fertility, without fertility regulation, we’re going nowhere. This is actually the key to unlock the success of sustainable development in Nigeria and the Ministry of Health has positioned itself to fulfill this purpose.”
Chairman, NPC, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, said the commission would give a reliable and credible data census with international standards.
Resident Representative, United Nations Population Fund, Ulla Mueller, said African nations relied on Nigeria to assist in achieving the SDGs 2030.
She said: “As you may be aware, Nigeria’s population is currently increasing at a rate of 3.2 percent annually and it’s projected at 216m in 2022 and may reach 400m by 2050, making it the world’s most populated nation.
Read also:
“Large Population Is Not Poverty,” Oluwo of Iwo Land
‘We Must to Regulate Birth and Fertility’ – FG