By Aderogba George
The Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) Nigeria has urged stakeholders to remove barriers preventing people from accessing quality contraceptive information and services.
The call was made in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman, Management Committee of AAFP Nigeria and Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2026 Nigeria Family Planning Conference (NFPC).
Oji made the call to commemorate the 2026 World Contraception Day, with the theme, “No barriers, just choices: Contraceptive access now.”
He said the theme was a reminder that everyone had the right to make informed and voluntary decisions about when and how many children to have.
Oji said people should have access to a full range of safe, effective and affordable contraceptive methods without discrimination, coercion or unnecessary restrictions.
He said in spite of progress in expanding family planning services, many Nigerians still faced barriers, including cost of services and transportation, stock-outs and limited availability of contraceptive methods.
Other challenges, he said, included inadequate information, stigma, myths and misconceptions, provider bias, restrictive social norms and a shortage of accessible, youth-friendly services.
According to him, the barriers disproportionately affect people in rural and underserved communities, adolescents and young people, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and households with limited financial resources.
“Contraceptive access is essential healthcare and a fundamental component of the right to make informed decisions about one’s health and future.
“No Nigerian should be denied the opportunity to choose a contraceptive method because of poverty, location, age, disability, marital status or social stigma.
“We must move from commitments to sustained action so that contraceptive choices are available, affordable, acceptable and accessible to everyone,” he said.
Oji urged the Federal and state governments, development partners, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, private sector and community leaders to ensure sustained financing for family planning.
He also called for uninterrupted supplies of a broad range of quality-assured contraceptive methods and strengthened family planning services within primary healthcare facilities and community-based programmes.
He urged stakeholders to provide accurate, evidence-based and age-appropriate information through trusted and accessible channels.
Oji called for the expansion of confidential, respectful and youth-friendly services for adolescents and young people, as well as removal of financial, geographical and social barriers facing underserved populations.
He also advocated training and support for healthcare providers to offer voluntary, non-judgmental and person-centred counselling and services.
The AAFP chairman called for improved access to family planning services for persons with disabilities, displaced populations and communities affected by conflict or humanitarian emergencies.
He urged stakeholders to engage men, community leaders, traditional and religious institutions, young people and other groups in addressing harmful myths, misinformation and stigma.
Oji also called for greater use of digital platforms to improve access to family planning services and information.
He said access to family planning must be based on informed choice, privacy, dignity and respect for human rights.
“As Nigeria marks World Contraception Day 2026, AAFP Nigeria reiterates its commitment to working with partners to advance universal access to voluntary, high-quality family planning information and services,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Tosin Kolade
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