Udoma: Nigeria to curb indiscriminate population growth

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has expressed concerns about the rapid growth rate of the country’s population, stating that there is need for national moderation plan to avoid population explosion.

In a statement issued in Abuja by his special adviser on Media, Akpandem James on Tuesday, Udoma predicted dire consequences on the economic recovery growth plan of the Nation, if nothing is done to curb the trend.

The minister disclosed that the current estimates suggest that more than four million people are being added to the country’s population every year.

He pointed out that the figure is comparable to the population of many large cities or those of small African countries.

Citing the China example, the Minister said managing population growth is an important part of any strategy to achieve sustainable economic development.

He mentioned that his Ministry, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health has been given the responsibility by Strategy 46 of the ERGP to develop policies to help manage the country’s rate of population growth.

“Let me say, so that I am not mis-understood, that I am not suggesting that we consider taking measures as drastic as the ones China implemented.

“It is important to sensitize Nigerians that we will have to find ways to better manage our rate of population growth if we are to fully achieve the objectives of the ERGP, which is to create the Nigeria of our dreams where extreme poverty is virtually abolished,” he explained.

The Minister emphasised that the EGRP is at its infancy, and when fully implemented we should achieve a GDP growth rate of at least 7 percent.