Experts Warn Nigeria’s Population May Reach 450 Million by 2050 Without Urgent Action
Experts have raised alarm over Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, warning that it could surge to 450 million by 2050 if the current fertility rate remains unchanged. The warning was issued at a media roundtable in Abuja ahead of the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, organized by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other family planning stakeholders.
Dr. Ejike Oji, the Chairman of the AAFP’s Management Committee and the Local Organizing Committee for the conference, highlighted that Nigeria’s fertility rate remains alarmingly high. He called for urgent action to reduce the fertility rate to 4 percent, stressing that without significant changes, the country’s population would continue to grow exponentially. “If we continue with the same fertility rate that we have now, our population is going to be driven to 450 million by 2050,” Dr. Oji said. He explained that each year, Nigeria adds approximately 4 million people to its population, and this number could escalate due to the compounding nature of the growth.
The fertility rate in Nigeria has slightly improved, from 5.3 percent to 4.8 percent, but experts insist that further reductions are critical to avoid a population crisis. Dr. Oji warned that if the country does not take the necessary steps now, Nigeria will face severe consequences by 2030, as the strain on resources, healthcare, and infrastructure would be unsustainable.
Corroborating this, Dr. Martin Migombano, Managing Director of the FP2030 North, West, and Central Africa Hub, stated that Nigeria’s current trajectory puts it on course for a population explosion. He also noted that Nigeria accounts for 28.5 percent of global maternal mortality, underlining the urgency of addressing family planning and reproductive health issues. He emphasized the need for a collaborative effort between government bodies, healthcare providers, and international partners to provide access to family planning services, particularly at the grassroots level.
Dr. Migombano further stressed the importance of ensuring women’s access to family planning services, including the availability of commodities and education. He urged stakeholders to take responsibility for creating effective partnerships that will make family planning more accessible to Nigerians.
Mrs. Ifesinachi Eze, a consultant at Amref International, pointed out the challenges faced by women in humanitarian settings, where disruptions in family planning and reproductive health services exacerbate the unmet needs. Eze highlighted that organizations like USAID are developing initiatives such as the Propel Adapt project, which engages the private sector to strengthen family planning supply chains in emergencies.
The upcoming conference, themed “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; Advancing Progress Toward Achieving FP2030 Goals,” will focus on advancing family planning efforts to help address Nigeria’s growing population crisis. The event aims to bring together experts, government representatives, and international organizations to strategize on ways to reduce fertility rates and improve reproductive health services across the country.
As Nigeria continues to face the challenges posed by rapid population growth, experts are calling for immediate action to implement policies and initiatives that will ensure a sustainable future for the nation. The conversation surrounding family planning remains central to managing this population growth, with an emphasis on accessibility, education, and collaboration across sectors.
