NPC Boss Urges Joint Government Action on Family Planning, Links Accurate Census to Nigeria’s Development
By Victor Idajil
The Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, says Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable growth without stronger coordination on family planning and reliable population data.
Speaking on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the first meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Ministerial Platform on Family Planning, Health, Human Capital and National Development in Abuja, Dr. Yusuf warned that the country’s development plans will keep falling short without an up-to-date census.
He was represented by the Acting Chairman and Federal Commissioner for Ogun State, Dr. Fasuwa Johnson Abayomi. The statement was issued by Stanley Onyeka Nwosu, mnipr, SA Media to the NPC Chairman.
According to Dr. Yusuf, family planning must be treated as more than a health matter.
“Family planning is not merely a health intervention. It is a population and development issue at its core,” he said.
“When couples and families are able to make informed, voluntary choices about their reproductive lives, we see healthier mothers and children, better educational outcomes for girls, more empowered women, and a demographic structure that can genuinely drive national productivity.”
The NPC Chairman stressed that fertility rates, demographic projections, and Nigeria’s ability to benefit from its youthful population all depend on having accurate data from a credible census.
“Nigeria’s population is both our greatest asset and our greatest responsibility,” he stated. “Realizing its full potential requires exactly the kind of coordinated, multisectoral action this meeting represents. Without precise population figures, long-term planning and policy implementation will continue to suffer.”
He added that the Commission is ready to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, other MDAs, and development partners to put population data and planning at the center of national policy.
The meeting was convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with FP2030 as co-convener. It brought together government officials and partners to discuss how better health outcomes and population management can drive human capital development.
Dr. Yusuf described the platform as “timely and essential” and pledged the NPC’s full support for current and future initiatives aimed at sustainable national development.
Also present from the NPC were the Federal Commissioner for Oyo State, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji; the Federal Commissioner for Ebonyi State, Dr. Jeremiah Ogbonna Nwankwagu; and the Director of the Population Management Department, Dr. Kehinde Seun-Addie.
Participants concluded that tackling population growth, strengthening health systems, and investing in people through cross-sector collaboration are key if Nigeria is to fully harness its demographic potential.
