A group of experts has urged both federal and state governments in Nigeria to increase investment in education, health and security, as the country envisages population explosion in 2050.
Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria 2050: Shifting Gears” at the ongoing Social Media Week in Lagos, the experts said the country’s current population estimated to be over 200 million is expected to double by year 2050, despite recent rising insecurity and poor infrastructure.
A Senior Economist at Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Wilson Erumebor, noted that the United Nations projects that Nigeria’s population would double by 2050, adding that only a competitive private sector-driven economy could help achieve a commensurate standard of living.
“To prepare ahead of that time, our indicators of progress must include poverty eradication, income equality, health and wellbeing, gender gap, jobs and industry-ready skills.
“An extra 250 million people would need food, jobs, a health care system that works and education, among others. Ending poverty in Nigeria would entail improving the country’s economic productivity and opportunities for its citizens.
“This will mean investing in human capital potential and creating jobs for women and young people, increasing financial access and opportunities for those groups in rural communities,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Ola Brown, Founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, advised the governments at all levels to prepare for 2050 by putting more infrastructures in place for the citizenry.
Dr. Brown said: “Most times we consume what we do not produce. It is high time we started doing more of exports than import. Under normal circumstances a country’s population could be cited as strength.
“In Nigeria’s case, population growth outpaces public infrastructure. To change this narrative, improvement is needed in the area of health care, productivity, investment and increased government spending.”
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on SDGs, Solape Hammond, noted that the Lagos State Government had provided funds through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to encourage small and medium scale businesses (SMEs), as part of measures to curb unemployment in the state.
“The government set aside about N7.5 billion for 10,000 businesses, which shows that Lagos is improving with a lot of potential,” she said.
