Expert Urges FG On Population Policy Review

An environmentalist, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa on Thursday called on government at all tiers to address the high birth rate in the country.

Ologunorisa stated this in reaction to recent global ranking of Nigeria as the sixth most populous country in the world, with a population of 167 million.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that government’s failure to evolve population control measures would have adverse effects on the country’s socio-economic development.

“The report showed that our present birth and population control measures are not being efficiently implemented and monitored.

“What this means is that government should come with a result-oriented population and birth control policy that would prevent population explosion in the country,’’ he said.

Ologunorisa said population rise would negatively affect infrastructural facilities, lead to deforestation, food insecurity, diseases, slums, unemployment and environmental degradation.

He, however, added that the country’s present population would have been an asset for production of goods and services for local consumption and export, if properly harnessed.

Ologunorisa urged the various levels of government to close ranks in the sensitisation and implementation of birth and population control measures in all nooks and crannies of the nation.

The Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Studies at Osun State University, Osogbo, added that family planning practices must be encouraged, while efforts should be increased to produce food and generate employment.

“There is a great lesson to be learnt from countries like China, where people are made to adhere strictly to the number of children the law allows per family or couple.

“If we are saying that a couple should have a maximum of four children, there should be enforcement measures on ground as well,’’ he said.