Chioma Umeha
To avoid population explosion and its attendant
health and socio-economic malaise, traditional, religious and political leaders
have been urged to assist in demystifying the myths and misconceptions
surrounding Family Planning (FP) in Nigeria.
Making the call was Mr Dele Fanimo, the Chief
Operating Officer (COO), Leadership Newspapers, at an advocacy visit by the
Family Planning Media Advocacy Working Group (FPMAWG) to Leadership Lagos
Office, who alerted that the recent staggering figure of the Nigerian
population, describing it as a time bomb.
Fanimo said, “The Nigerian population is 198
million and this figure has an implication on the country in all aspects of the
economy. A quarter of this population is almost twice the population of
Republic of Benin. The central of this is uncontrolled birth.”
Raising alarm on the implication of the Nigerian
huge population which the media executive said this can lead to increase in
crime and prostitution, he noted ‘with social dislocation, what a country gets
is underdevelopment and a failed nation.’
“Uncontrolled birth is unacceptable because when a
man has a big family he cannot cater for, he will have to deny child A to send
child B to school, leading to more miscreants, thieves, thugs and hoodlums on
our streets, and the vicious circle continues.
“This is a huge problem, if we want to help the
country, we must promote FP. Churches need to do more. Some of these things
should form part of the Sunday sermon and mosque service.
“They need to demystify the myths and
misconceptions to their members. Imagine a woman attaching child birth to
inheritance. Some will say, if you live in a man’s house and no son, you will
suffer when the man dies.
“Not able to cater for a large family can also
lead to corruption because when you have more than you can care for, you would
be force to steal,” he added.
Fanimo however called on traditional leaders,
religious leaders and political leaders to help and demystify the myths and
misconceptions of FP as the media cannot do it alone.
As part of contributing its quota in creating more
awareness on FP, he pledged to FPMAWG that Leadership Newspaper is ready to
work with them.
He further enjoined the FPMAWG to see beyond
newspaper publications, but go to the rural communities, community leaders and
other stakeholders to sensitize them on the importance of FP, they in turn will
now be an advocate of FP.
