A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics puts Nigeria’s current population at 193.3m as against the 2006 figure of about 140m people. The first reality is that Nigeria’s population is about 2.57% of the world’s population which is put at about 7.5billion people.
It is necessary to note that Nigeria’s population growth rate hovers about 2.7% whereas the economy grows at 0.55% judging from the recent post-recession GDP figures. Another reality from this figure is that Nigeria produces about 14,000 children every day without any plan for their welfare. Isn’t it a scary situation?
Despite its seeming insincerity, the International Monetary fund (IMF) had raised an alarm two months ago in Washington that the economy of West African countries including Nigeria is not growing at the same rate as their population. In Nigeria, the unemployment rate of 14.2 % is still very high and unacceptable just like the inflation rate of 15.91% (year-on-year). This picture shows how fast Nigerians are sliding into the abyss of a future devoid of every element of certainty without notice.
A country distinctly blessed with abundant natural and human resources has in a brazen manner, exposed its inability to manage these resources to guarantee the best possible future for its citizens. The total collapse of purpose-driven leadership has given birth to a country with data, fit only for public analysis without any concrete interest in its deployment for future planning. This has continued to be the bane of development and successive governments have not been able to reasonably change the narrative.
It is almost unthinkable that the country is still confronted with the challenge of fixing the basic needs of life. When building of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, houses, provision of water become perennial campaign slogans by political office seekers, will provision of millions of jobs ever feature in their manifestos?
All levels of government in Nigeria must evolve and implement practicable strategies to radically improve the quality of life of all citizens. The impending consequences of extreme poverty, hunger and deprivation among people make it quite necessary and increasingly urgent to reverse this trend.
Uwemedimo Udo,
Uyo, Akwa Ibom state
Business
