The National Population Commission (NPC) estimates Nigeria’s current population at 198 million, with the urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 percent.
National People’s Congress Chairman Eze Duruiheoma said this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration at the 51st Commission on Population and Development.
“Nigeria remains the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world, with an estimated population of over 198 million,” Duruiheoma said.
“Recent global population projections predict that by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world.
“Over the past 50 years, Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 percent, without a commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure.
“It has increased significantly from 17.3 percent in 1967 to 49.4 percent in 2017. Furthermore, the 2014 World Urbanization Prospects report predicts that by 2050, most of the population (70 percent) will live in cities.
“The 2010 Human Migration Survey report revealed that 23 percent of the population sampled were more female than male.”
He said the categories of the population primarily engaged in urbanization and migration are adolescents and teenage girls and boys, women of childbearing age, and the working-age population.
He said existing urbanization trends and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cities pose significant challenges to ensuring urban sustainability, including efforts to make cities smart and accommodate the influx of people.
“The 21st Displacement Tracking Matrix for January 2018 identified an estimated 1.7 million internally displaced persons in over 321,580 households in six states in north-eastern Nigeria, 40 percent of whom reside in urban camp-like settings, and an additional 1.4 million returnees.
“The number of internally displaced persons increased by 4.5% compared to 1,702,680 people identified in Round XX (December 2017).”
Druiheoma said that, like other developing countries, poverty, underemployment and unemployment are prevalent in Nigerian cities, with an average rate of 18.4%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics’ 2017 report.
The head of the National People’s Congress lamented the insecurity and inadequate and unfair medical services for young people and women of childbearing age.
“Nigeria remains committed to resolving the insurgency challenge in the Northeast, which has caused large numbers of internally displaced persons.
“We recognize that women, children, and especially girls, are often the most vulnerable among these displaced populations, and in this regard, we remain focused on the well-being of these vulnerable members of the population.
“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to providing adequate health services, reducing maternal mortality, rebuilding safe schools, empowering women and achieving sustainable development.”
Druiheoma said these challenges are having a negative impact on the quality of life and standard of living of city residents.
He said Nigeria remained committed to the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda: providing adequate shelter for all and developing sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world.
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