Nigeria's Population Now 168 million, projected to hit 221 million in 2020

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said the country’s population has risen from the 140,431,790 it was five years ago when the last national headcount was taken, to 167,912,561 as at yesterday. This represents an annual population growth rate of 5.6 million people.

Chairman of NPC, Samu'ila Danko Makama, who made the disclosure at a valedictory press briefing of the board of the commission in Abuja, said of this figure, 82,098,001 are females, while males account for 85,814,560.

He also said given the agency’s new projection of the country’s population growth with an assessment of 3.2 per cent rate, “the same rate the NPC used in 1991 and 2006”, Nigeria’s population would hit 221,392,163 by July 1, 2020.

Makama said: “This means that Nigeria contributes 2.4 per cent of the seven billion people which the world population would hit on October 31, 2011.” Giving account of the money spent on the 2006 population census, he said, of the N37 billion which was expended on the exercise, 48 per cent was provided by the European Union (EU), while the remainder of 52 per cent was provided by the Federal Government.

Speaking on the implication of the population growth of Nigeria, Makama said it was imperative that the necessary framework be put in place by the NPC and other stakeholders to accommodate the rate. He particularly cautioned that the population explosion could lead to a higher rate of unemployment and poverty among Nigerians.

“It is necessary that we start to space our children. Yes, children are provided by God, but we also have to plan for them,” he said. Lauding the 2006 census exercise, Makama said many African countries were currently utilising the experience of some of the NPC officials to conduct their demographic survey.

“The 2006 census was the biggest statistical exercise in Africa, and the eight biggest in the world. It was acclaimed by local and foreign bodies as credible and one of the best the country ever had. But because some people always choose to have predetermined minds on population issues, it was criticised by some Nigerians,” he added.

He noted that one of the major challenges faced by the commission was the issue of funding, while conceding that there had been improvement in recent years. The commission now has 2,733 registration centres across the country with at least three in every local government area, he said.

Source: ThisDayLive