Since I’m neither a Pope per se nor even religious in the strict sense of the word, let me preach to you about something which could be more challenging than the alleged rape or the “beatification” of the dead soft drink, Krest! that I called population.
One out of every African is Nigerian. 2.6% of total world population is Nigeria meaning 1 out of every 43 people on earth is Nigerian. More than 50% of Nigerians are under 30.
Currently believed to be 200m plus, as at this June, the United Nations project that the overall population of Nigeria will reach about 398 million by the end of the year 2050.
By 2100, if current growth figures subsist, the population of Nigeria will be over 746 million. According to the Census Bureau of the United States, the population of Nigeria will reach 402 million people by the year 2050.
With these numbers, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the entire world, surpassing the United States and others!
Oshiomhole Having Sleepless Night In APC
The aforementioned statistics portend grave danger for Nigeria and the African continent, if the leaders (in government and politics) do not start focusing (their words and actions) on them.
Developmental issues like Education, Healthcare, infrastructure, technology, industrialization, youth empowerment and security should start dominating our development agenda. The utilization of national resources, where they exist, and the creation of a salubrious environment for the creation of wealth and promotion of prosperity, knowledge and good health must be of topmost priority.
More importantly, people should try and be their brother’s keeper by counseling those who are sworn to take the biblical “increase and multiply” literally to make a rethink. You can’t continue to breed like rabbits without any certainty of the resources fir fending for them-feeding, clothing, education, healthcare, etc. We are no longer in the era of “Igwebuike” (strength in numbers). It’s now quality not quantity. Governments at every level must start spending on family planning education! The churches should redeem themselves by getting involved in this crucial battle.
The surging population of Nigeria is a ticking time-bomb worse than insurgency, kidnapping, Yahoo-Yahoo, prostitution and armed robbery combined. It must be addressed one way or the other or we brace up for the consequences.
Or we should ask the makers of Krest to return the amazing product to the market so corporate organizations and even churches can sponsor free distribution of the product as CSR, just as SFH and other distribute free condoms? We need to prevent reckless population growth!
