The National Population Commission has stressed the need for family planning, child spacing and empowerment of people as tools for economic and social development of Nigeria.
The National Chairman of the commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, made the call on Tuesday in Awka during a news conference to mark the 2017 World Population Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme is “Family Planning, Birth Spacing: Empowering People, Developing Nations”.
Duruiheoma, represented by Joachin Ulasi, the Anambra State Director of NPC, explained that family planning and child spacing were personal decisions with profound implications on the health, economic and social well-being of the society.
The NPC boss said that such simple individual choices had a development implication that must be addressed on a sustainable basis.
Duruiheoma said: “As the theme of the 2017 World Population Day shows, family planning is not only about saving lives, but also empowering people and developing nations.
“Family planning is a life-saving intervention; it prevents unintended pregnancies and in turn reduces health risks at childbirth and recourse to unsafe abortions.
“This type of intervention is critical not only in normal situations but also during humanitarian crisis, often characterised by sexual violence, intimate-partner violence, child-marriage and high-risk behaviour such as survival, transactional and commercial sex.”
Duruiheoma, who listed the advantages of family planning to development, noted that investment in it often creates a reinforcing cycle of empowerment.
He said: “It also supports healthy, educated and economically productive women and family.”
According to him, family planning is integral to sustainable development.
He, therefore, called for collective action from federal, state and local governments as well as community and religious leaders in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services to Nigerians.
Responding to questions from reporters, Ulasi said that in spite of having a population of more than 180 million people, Nigeria could not be said to be over-populated.
He said: “Nigeria has more of young people who are productive. That shows quality population.
“If we manage our population well, Nigeria will be able to produce what it needs as a nation.”
Ulasi advised Nigerians to ensure that they have the number of children they would effectively cater for; stressing that raising a family above one’s income contributes to the upsurge in violence and crime in the society.
According to him, ground work for the conduct of the next National Census population is ongoing.
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