Experts have warned that Nigeria’s population could reach 450 million by 2050 if urgent measures are not taken to address the rapid population growth.
Speaking at a media roundtable in Abuja ahead of the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference, organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, experts emphasised the importance of reducing the country’s fertility rate.
In his opening remarks, Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the AAFP Management Committee and Local Organising Committee for the conference, highlighted the need to lower the fertility rate to 4%. He stated, “If we continue with the current fertility rate, our population will surge to 450 million by 2050. Each year, about four million people are added to our population, and the increase is geometric.”
Dr Oji compared Nigeria’s situation to India and China, which achieved significant economic growth by reducing fertility rates and investing in their young populations. He added, “Nigeria has the same opportunity, but we must act now to avoid severe consequences.”
While Nigeria’s fertility rate has decreased slightly from 5.3% to 4.8%, experts stressed that more needs to be done to achieve the FP2030 goals.
The conference, themed *“Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; advancing progress toward achieving FP2030 goals,”* aims to reemphasise the importance of family planning.
Dr Martin Migombano, Managing Director of FP2030 North, West, and Central Africa Hub, noted that 28.5% of global maternal mortality occurs in Nigeria. He urged stakeholders, including religious leaders, financial partners, and the government, to ensure family planning resources reach grassroots communities.
Mrs Ifesinachi Eze, a consultant with Amref International, highlighted the disruptions in family planning services during humanitarian crises, leaving many women with unmet needs. She discussed USAID’s Propel Adapt project, which is developing a private-sector engagement guide to strengthen supply chains for family planning and reproductive health services in emergencies.
Eze concluded by emphasising collaboration between governments, private sectors, and donors to create frameworks and infrastructure for a thriving health sector.
