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NPC Calls for Shift from Fertility Focus to Addressing Structural Inequalities

Published

5 months ago

June 18, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has called for a major shift in Nigeria’s population policy—from merely focusing on fertility rates to tackling the structural inequalities that shape reproductive choices.

Kwarra made this call on Tuesday in Abuja during the official launch of the 2025 State of the World Population (SWOP) Report, presented in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Delivering his address at the event, themed “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency,” Kwarra noted that the report presents more than just global statistics—it serves as a wake-up call to reflect deeply on human development and the lived realities behind demographic figures.

“Fertility is often discussed in numbers—how many children are born, how fast populations are growing. But behind each number is a story: a woman, a family, a future,” he said. “The real crisis is not just about whether people are having more or fewer children, but about their ability to make those decisions freely and safely.”

He emphasized that millions of Nigerian men and women continue to face barriers—ranging from poverty, poor healthcare access, and gender inequality to inadequate data—that prevent them from exercising reproductive autonomy.

Highlighting key findings from the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Kwarra revealed that Nigeria’s national Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 5.3 to 4.8 children per woman. Despite this progress, adolescent fertility remains a major concern, with 15% of girls aged 15 to 19 already pregnant or having begun childbearing.

The modern contraceptive prevalence rate among married women has risen slightly to 15%, still well below the national target of 27% by 2030.

Meanwhile, the unmet need for family planning has increased to 21%, underscoring major gaps in both service delivery and access.

“These figures are not just statistics,” Kwarra said. “They represent the reality of young girls forced into early motherhood, of women unable to space or limit pregnancies, and of families trying to make choices without adequate support.”

He added that the problem is not unique to Nigeria. Globally, fears of population decline are growing, yet millions still cannot have the number of children they want—when and how they want—due to structural and systemic barriers.

The NPC boss reiterated the critical role of accurate data in addressing these issues. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to producing credible, inclusive data—especially through the upcoming National Population and Housing Census—to inform people-centered, rights-based policies.

“The shift we seek must move away from population control toward reproductive empowerment. From top-down policymaking to bottom-up agency. From fear-based messaging to policies that affirm dignity and freedom,” he said.
Kwarra stressed that this transformation is not just about upholding human rights—it’s also a smart development strategy.

“When individuals can make informed decisions about their reproductive lives, they are more likely to invest in education, health, and their communities. Empowered choices lead to empowered societies.”

He urged all stakeholders—government agencies, development partners, civil society, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and the media—to work together to remove the barriers hindering reproductive autonomy.

“As we reflect on the findings of this report, let us commit to building a Nigeria where every woman and man, every girl and boy, has the freedom and means to shape their reproductive journey—free from coercion, discrimination, or fear,” Kwarra concluded.

The SWOP 2025 report ultimately underscores a growing global consensus: that investing in reproductive rights and health is not only a matter of justice, but a vital step toward sustainable national development.

In his addressed the Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Sen. Victor Umeh, cautioned against legislative attempts to control births, saying education should be the focus instead.
“Some countries, like China, have tried this and it is not helping them much,” he said.

He called for sex education for girls, to help them understand their reproductive cycles and take control of their fertility.

On the postponed National Population and Housing Census, Umeh said accurate population data was critical to national planning.

He said President Bola Tinubu had constituted a Presidential Committee to ensure a credible census is conducted soon.

He also assured that the National Assembly would give full support for the exercise.

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Politics

Wike’s Loyalists in PDP Suspend Acting Chairman Damagum, Spokesman Ologunagba, Others

Published

23 hours ago

November 2, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.

He stated, “First of all, we want to commend the judiciary over the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members all over. Nobody can claim victory over the judgment of the court. It is a judgment against impunity, against illegality. We promote unity, peace, and cohesion in the party.

“Having said that, the party did not overlook the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to cause disaffection in the party, which has made most of our leaders and governors leave the party in droves. I would say that this is the time to arrest such a situation and call it to order.

“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we decided, as a party, to suspend Ambassador Damagum, the National Chairman of the party, for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and flagrant disobedience of court judgments. We decided that we should suspend him for one month, and we will send him to the Disciplinary Committee for him to be able to answer questions.

“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. We have seen the frequent press releases by the National Publicity Secretary which was confirmed that even at a point, the then National Vice Chairman suspended him for appearing or defending the party because of the unapproved frequent press releases. For us to have sanity in the party, we have suspended him.”

Anyanwu also announced the suspension of the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, accusing him of failing to properly advise Damagum against engaging in anti-party activities and reckless behavior.

He continued, “On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days. Now, we talk about the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro. We have discovered that in the last few days and months, there have been congresses and sales of forms meant for our congresses, which were bought and paid into two different accounts controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So, on this note, he has been suspended, and we are sending him to the Disciplinary Committee. We are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.

“Again, the Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, PDP Youth all over, if you watched yesterday, the youth leaders all over the country met and said that they don’t want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned. For that reason, he has also been suspended for one month.

“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo who is supposed to be my deputy, is also suspended for one month. He resumed the office of the National Secretary illegally, signed all kinds of letters, especially to some states, where he has caused disaffection among our party members in those states. For that reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.

“All of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. The judgment of yesterday confirmed the reason why this suspension should be effective. In their place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman to act as National Chairman. In the place of the National Publicity Secretary, we are going to ask the Director of Publicity of our party, Chinwen Nnorom, to take over all the activities of the party in terms of information.”

According to Anyanwu, ten members of the NWC were in attendance.

Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.

Despite the scheduled National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal strife continues to grip the party.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their grievances revolve around unresolved disputes concerning the South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States. In addition, disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention have further deepened divisions within the PDP.

These ongoing conflicts eventually escalated into a legal confrontation aimed at halting the planned convention. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention until further notice.

In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that the PDP must suspend its convention pending full compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act of 2022.

The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.

They argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal regulations, citing the PDP’s failure to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.

Justice Omotosho upheld their arguments, ruling that the PDP had indeed breached its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by neglecting to conduct proper state congresses and failing to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.

Consequently, the court ordered the suspension of the planned convention until all internal irregularities are corrected in accordance with the law.

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