NPC chair seeks population fund to end census delays
By Folasade Akpan
The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Aminu Yusuf, says he will propose the creation of a Population Trust Fund to prevent funding gaps that repeatedly disrupt Nigeria’s census cycle.
He stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 13th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS), themed “Emerging Global Funding Realities: Impact on Population Activities and Need for Innovative Domestic Resource Mobilisation.”
Yusuf said censuses were intended to hold every 10 years, adding that a dedicated fund would ensure timely planning and execution.
He said the initiative was part of his reform agenda to strengthen the commission’s independence and reliability.
He noted that declining development assistance globally had made domestic resource mobilisation essential.
According to him, the lecture theme was “a call to action” for Nigeria to take responsibility for funding critical population activities, including health, education and data systems.
Also speaking, Rep. Kwamoti Laori, National President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), said the shift in global funding was affecting reproductive health, family planning and maternal health services.
Represented by the Executive Director, Dr Haruna Aku, he stressed the urgency of developing strategies to reduce disruptions.
Laori said the absence of legislation mandating census intervals had contributed to long delays, noting that nearly two decades had passed without a national headcount.
He warned that unreliable data was worsening insecurity, including banditry and kidnapping.
Dr Aminu Magashi, Founder of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), said Nigeria must prioritise population management as projections show the country could reach 400 million people by 2050.
With 70 per cent of the population under 30, he said challenges in education, health, family planning and low contraceptive use were already evident.
Magashi recommended full implementation of the National Population Policy and the creation of dedicated budget lines for population and development at national and state levels.
He urged commissioners to work with governors to ensure consistent budgetary support and called for population issues to be placed on the national security agenda.
Mrs Edna Azura, National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), said well-funded demographic programmes were vital for maternal health, girl-child education, gender-based violence responses and economic empowerment.
She urged stronger domestic resource mobilisation, public–private partnerships and community engagement.
She pledged NCWS support for NPC efforts to improve data accuracy, promote responsible population management and strengthen gender-responsive planning.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APLS, established in 2012, serves as a policy forum for high-level discussions on Nigeria’s population and related development issues. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
