Generally speaking, big populations have been regarded as assets. Whether this is in relation to families, communities and, more recently, countries does not change anything; it does not negate what is a truism. This is primarily because; historically speaking at least, there are enough hands to work in the fields ensuring a continuous boost in production which as a result and in addition to other factors guarantee the sustenance of the family unit and the community at large. This was the picture of society a few centuries ago.

With the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and the advancement in technology, serious societies had to rethink the purpose and ends of procreation, of big populations. In the process, measures were introduced to address the redundancy that will arise when machines took up the roles of human beings in the plantations and other spheres of human endeavour: thus, the introduction of family planning. One must be quick to clarify, though, that attempts to control human reproduction is not entirely a modern phenomenon. Throughout history, human beings have engaged in both pro and anti-natalist practices directed at enhancing social welfare. Unfortunately, however, it appears this reality has been lost on some families, communities and countries. One of the countries which fall within the latter group is Nigeria. And this is a matter for deep regret.

As of today, no one knows authoritatively or with any air of certainty the population of Nigeria. Irrespective of where one is looking at for this information, it is believed that 180,000,000 people will be close to reality. Based on the controversial 2006 census figure of roughly 140,000,000 people, it means that in each year within the last decade, Nigerians saw the addition of a minimum of 4,000,000 new souls to their number. UNICEF, however, has a higher figure of 5,900,000, but this is beside the point. The implication of these figures is that Nigerians make up around 2.48% of the world’s total population. That is to say, 1 out of every 43 people and 1 out of every 7 Black people in the planet is a Nigerian. By all standards, this is quite something; it is a very impressive statistics and holds great potentials. It should be noted that this figure is not an extraordinary one in and of itself. After all Nigeria’s population, although number 1 in Africa and the entire Black world, is only number 7 in the world behind the likes of Brazil and Pakistan. However, what makes this figure frightening and problematic in Nigeria’s case is that ours is a population that is unwieldy and largely unproductive due to the interplay of several factors - these are beyond the scope of this piece.

It is therefore for this reason that I believe that Nigeria currently has a demographic challenge. Well, saying that what we face now is a mere challenge is trivialising the issue. What we face in Nigeria is a demographic crisis! And it must be given adequate attention in order that it does not snowball into something more catastrophic. One is thus gladdened by the growing awareness that families should trim their sizes and have the number of children they can comfortably cater for. This call has recently been made by no less a person than the Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, who advised that due to the economic recession in Nigeria couples should spend more time planning their families and cut the number where possible by adopting appropriate family planning measures. This is without discussion a very sensible view and one that makes a lot of common sense.

However, it is contended that this admonition alone is clearly not enough. It is thus submitted that irrespective of the existence of economic recession families must be properly planned. As such, the better view is that proactive steps must be taken by government at all levels but particularly the federal and state governments and other critical stakeholders to address what is turning out to be a very serious problem. This is because certain people and groups won’t budge unless they are compelled to so act. The government, for instance, must come up with deliberate birth control legislations and policies. Quite simply, the government must take steps to cut down the projected geometric rise in our population. Since it appears the people of the country are not perturbed by the trend even in the absence of concrete social safety nets; the traditional extended family arrangement is obviously inadequate. Other progressive countries have taken similar routes and they are better for it.

I have happened on discussions and arguments to the effect that cutting down on the population won’t do the trick. That it is akin to using a sledge hammer to kill a fly that is resting on a delicate spot. That it is extreme. These pundits posit that Nigeria is a ‘blessed’ country and rich enough to take care of her citizens provided there is employment and her ‘leaders’ don’t continue to dip their hands in the public till. Well, to be absolutely clear, Nigeria is not a rich country and has never been one. This is for the simple reason that our Gross National Income (GNI) per capita has always been amongst the lowest in the world. An illustration will drive home the point. As of December, 2015 Nigeria’s per capita income, depending on the source of the information, stood at about $2,548 whereas Norway and Saudi Arabia, two countries which like Nigeria are oil producing, have per capita incomes of $89,741 and $21,312, respectively.

On the issue of unemployment, it is very sad that there is precious little that can be done in the short to medium term to address this pressing issue - especially graduate unemployment. This is so because the easiest way to create jobs is through industrialisation and a thriving manufacturing sector. But as even the blind can see, little or nothing is being done to set the nation on the path of focused industrialisation. In any event, industrialisation takes time and visionary leadership. Unfortunately, visionary leadership is one commodity that is literally in short supply in this part. Furthermore, preventing Nigeria’s leadership class from stealing public funds, while this is ideal, can only go so far in helping the country take care of its citizens. For one, government revenue cannot be shared amongst the citizens. But most importantly, if public funds are not embezzled will that automatically translate into an improved standard of living for the populace? Sadly, I must answer this question in the negative. What is required to improve the welfare of the citizenry is two-fold: citizens who are highly enlightened and a visionary leadership - which as I have already alluded to, are obviously lacking in Nigeria.

It is therefore proposed that a family unit in Nigeria by law should be composed of a maximum number of five people for the next twenty years at least; subject to review thereafter. This figure includes both parents and children. This proposition is anchored solidly on close to a decade of research into population size and sustainable development especially in the ‘developing’ global south. One even wonders: what joy do people derive from having too many children in this modern world with all the attendant challenges! As I always say while joking with friends; in this contemporary era, when a couple is approaching the two children mark they should start engaging the procreation brake pedal. However, when they hit the third child the entire tyres of the procreation vehicle must be pulled off. This analogy may be somewhat funny but it underscores the need for couples to stay within reasonable limits of reproduction in order not to overburden themselves and those around them with unnecessary ‘baggage’.

Furthermore, where despite best efforts to the contrary people have unfortunately been put in the family way every legal and medical facility should be provided for these people to enable them take control of their lives. Once it is established that it is not in their best interests to go through all the natural stages required by such a development. Society must not in an attempt to enforce a shadowy, elusive morality, set the stage for more problems in the lives of our young people and families. If for nothing, this will go a long way to prevent the unnecessary and avoidable deaths occasioned by the patronage of quacks.

The foregoing is without doubt a very radical and aggressive proposition which will be opposed by many on religious, cultural and other grounds. But as the saying goes, desperate situations require desperate measures. Nigeria, population wise, is in desperate times. It is simply a catastrophe waiting to happen. Accordingly, desperate and unusual measures must be introduced at this time to save the situation. To oppose this very modest proposition is to expose the country to more and more chaos. Chaos expressed in the form of rising, audacious and very violent criminality, grave unemployment, crass illiteracy, grinding poverty and a deplorable standard of living.

Respectfully,
@ODNEsq.

Thank you: Seun and Lalasticlala