Population and development in Nigeria: An assesment of the National Policy on Population and Sustainable Development

Abstract

The purpose of this review article is to explore the level of success and failure of the National Policy on Population and Sustainable Development (NPPSD). From the review of relevant statistical publications and other relevant documents, the aim of the policy which is to improve the quality of life and standard of living of the Nigerian population through the targets of the NPPSD, revealed that despite the fact that the NPPSD gave Nigeria a focus to tackling her many population and development challenges, it still failed to meet up with its targets. This failure, the study added, might not be unconnected with the same factors that have always stood against other development plans and policies ranging from lack of commitment, lack of political will, corruption, poor attitude from the populace, funding etc. Nevertheless, two targets seemed to be very promising so far from the review and which include reducing the HIV/AIDS prevalence and incidence rate, and gender equality and women empowerment. Based on the findings, the study recommended the following: the need for policy makers to set out on a search for a more veritable replacement, urgent and desperate need for a radically different approach to understanding and tackling the challenges associated with the NPPSD, and a new development plan that will address issues on education, youth, equity and sustainable development.

Keywords: Development, Population, Policy, National Policy on Population and Sustainable Development, Population Growth etc