Should Nigeria enforce a one-child policy to curtail its population growth?
Nigeria Population Growth Discussion

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Should Nigeria enforce a one-child policy to curtail its population growth? (p 144)

With the 16th highest total fertility rate in the world, Nigeria is set to become the world’s 3rd most populous nation by 2100. Using your knowledge of the factors associate with human population growth, put yourself in the shoes of Nigeria’s Minister of Health. Propose a solution to runaway population growth in Nigeria.

1. FOR YOUR DISCUSSION POST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Is a one-child policy a valid strategy?
What methods would you adopt to slow population growth and avert economic, health, and environmental crisis?
Discuss the merits of your solution in terms of the ultimate goal of reducing population growth rate, as well as maintaining or improving the quality of life.

Nigeria is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with approximately 212 million people in an area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi),[1] and is also the country with the largest population in Africa[2] and the seventh largest population in the world.[3]

Approximately 50% of Nigerians are urban dwellers, with the rate of urbanization being estimated at 4.3%.[2] Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, with over 500 languages,[2] and the variety of customs, and traditions among them gives the country great cultural diversity. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa 30% of the population; along with the Yoruba 15.5% and Igbo 15.2.[2] The Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, and Annang constitute other Southern populations. The Tiv, Urhobo-Isoko, Edo and Itsekiri constitute Nigerian’s Midwest.[4] Over 1 million people living in Nigeria (0.5% of its total population, or 1 in every 200 people living in Nigeria) is from another continent than Africa. 800,000 people living in Nigeria are from India,[5] 100,000 people from the United States,[6] 75,000 people from Lebanon,[7] 60,000 people from China[8] and 16,000 people from the United Kingdom[9]

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Nigeria Population Growth Discussion
Nigeria Population Growth Discussion

Most of the population is a young population, with 42.54% between the ages of 0–14.[2][10] There is also a very high dependency ratio of the country at 88.2 dependants per 100 non-dependants.[2] Three of the main religious groups are Muslim at 45%, Christian at 45% and other indigenous beliefs at 10%.[11] The predominantly Christian Igbo are found in the southeast.[12] Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in Igboland, but Anglicanism is also strong, as are Pentecostal and other Evangelical denominations.

Persons of different ethnic backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are the most widely used Nigerian languages. Nigerian Pidgin is used widely as an unofficial medium of communication especially in the Nigerian cities of Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Benin and Port Harcourt.

Demographics of Nigeria, data of FAO, year 2005; number of permanent inhabitants in thousands.
Nigeria’s population has been increasing rapidly for at least the last 5 decades due to very high birth rates, quadrupling its population during this time. Growth was fastest in the 1980s, after child mortality dropped rapidly, and has slowed slightly since then as the birth rate has declined slightly. According to the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 185,989,640 in 2016, compared to only 37,860,000 in 1950. The proportion of children under the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.0%, 53.2% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.7% were 65 years or older. There is a large population momentum, with 3.2 percent growth leading to the projected population.[14][2][15]

Abuja has not elected to implement the type of controversial family planning programs undermining the demographic potential of other developing nations, a result due to lackluster political support and a cultural preference for large families. Rising educational levels and health care improvements may enable future parents to opt for smaller families.[11]

The former Nigeria’s Chairman of National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, delivering Nigeria’s statement in New York on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration in the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development, said that “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million. The World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5% without commensurate increases in social amenities and infrastructure.” He also stated that the population “grew substantially from 17.3% in 1967 to 49.4% in 2017.