A former Director of Nigeria’s National Population Commission (NPC) has raised new concerns about the country’s rapid population growth, warning that overpopulation poses a significant threat to national development.

Speaking on Nigerian radio, Oluyemi Tubosun Falusi referenced a World Bank report projecting that Nigeria will become the third most populous country in the world by 2050.

“If we don’t manage our population growth, we’ll be facing serious social and economic challenges,” Falusi warned.

The former Director and statistical analyst explained that high birth rates, particularly in Northern Nigeria, are the main drivers of overpopulation, far more so than immigration.

Falusi also highlighted a paradox in the relationship between overpopulation and food security, noting that youth interest in agriculture is declining sharply.

But he argued that the growing population could, potentially, be turned into an asset, stating that: “Overpopulation could become a strength in terms of food production, but only if we can get our youths to actively participate in farming and agriculture”.

He concluded by urging policymakers to take urgent steps in addressing population growth through family planning, education, and youth empowerment initiatives.

Estimates suggest that the population of Nigeria could exceed 700 million by the end of this century.

At the time of writing, the population of Nigeria sits at approximately 239.104 million, a huge 89 per cent increase since 2000. The fertility rate (average number of births per mother) is currently a high 4.3.

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