Nigeria’s Population Becoming a Problem, Former President Obasanjo Says
A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the country’s rising population, fearing that it could become a problem if not well managed.
The former Nigerian leader stated this while addressing a mentoring session with students of some selected schools across the federation in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Mr Obasanjo was of the view that national development has been slowed in the country due to the geometric population explosion without a corresponding socio-economic development.
“We have moved from 120 million to over 200 million. We have added the population of France to our population and if we continue the way we are going, by the year 2050, we will be the third-largest country in the world,” he said.
“If we still continue, by the year 3000, we would be the largest country in the world. What are we going to do to handle that, how are we going to handle that population? If we do not start getting it right now, we will not get it right by the year 2050,” he added.
“Population by itself may not be a liability if we do what we have to do. But if we don’t do what we have to do which we are not doing now, the population will be a liability.
“What we need to do is education about population management. Some people don’t like saying family planning but, whatever you do, you must manage your population to the benefit of all that is living within your nation.”
[14:29, 28/06/2021] Chuks: Niger Delta Avengers’ Threat Unnecessary, Says Presidency
The Presidency yesterday described as unnecessary, the threat by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to bomb oil installations if some of their demands are not met by the federal government.
It, however, said it was curious that the threat came barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the leadership of the Niger Delta and Ijaw National Congress (INC), at the State House, Abuja during which they discussed crucial issues, especially the call for restructuring of the federation and the inauguration of a board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
A statement yesterday by the media adviser to the president, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the media was yesterday awash with threats and demands by Niger Delta Avengers to embark on economic sabotage through the bombing of critical oil and gas installations unless certain demands, including the development of the Niger Delta, and restructuring were met.
Adesina said for clarity and record purposes, the full text of the speech by President Buhari on Thursday, June 25, 2021, had rendered “any sabre-rattling rather unnecessary.”
He quoted the president as saying during his meeting with the leaders of the Niger Delta that “as the symbol of the collective voice of the Ijaw people, which is one of Nigeria’s main ethnic groups, the existence of a focused and people-oriented leadership would go a long way in articulating the demands of the Ijaw people and make sure these demands are made part of the national discourse.”
Buhari, according to his spokesman, also said that he noted the 10- point demand to the federal government in the inaugural speech of the leaders and promised that “this administration is frontally addressing them.”
Adesina added that Buhari also stated that he was concerned about the rate of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, and informed his visitors that “as you are aware the hydrocarbon pollution remediation project has started work with remediation efforts in Ogoni land and I have directed the Minister of Environment to ensure that the projects are implemented with a high percentage of local content and inclusion of the surrounding communities”.
In addition, Buhari told his visitors that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency was working to make sure that oil spills are reduced and new ones prevented.
Buhari had told Niger Delta leaders that all the agencies of government had been directed to ensure that they enforce compliance by the international oil companies (IOCs) to international best practices.
“In addressing your call for immediate restructuring, the National Assembly whose responsibility it is to ensure that our constitution responds to the call for a restructured Nigeria has already concluded regional consultations and as soon as they finalise the process, necessary action would not be delayed on my part,” Adesina quoted Buhari as saying.
He added that the president had also reminded the leaders that their call for the creation of two additional states and more local government areas for the Ijaw people was a legislative matter, which should be handled by the National Assembly and seeking concurrence at the state levels.
“I completely agree with your call to allocate operational licences for marginal fields to Ijaw people. However, as you know, the process of granting licences is guided by laid down rules and regulations, most of which even favour local content and local contractors. I see no reason why they should not be granted such licences if they qualify,” Adesina quoted Buhari as saying.
On the issue of fair and balanced appointments to reflect federal character principles, Buhari was said to have re-affirmed that this had always been his focus and would continue to be because he had always seen Nigeria as a country where everyone should be given equal opportunities.
The president, according to Adesina, had also promised that as soon as the forensic audit report of the NDDC was submitted and accepted, the NDDC board would be inaugurated.
