A tourism expert, Ini Akpabio has warned against unbridled population growth saying that with the economy growing at 1 percent annually and the population recording a growth of over 3 percent per annum, the country is heading to a disaster.
“We have to plan for both population and economic growth to move together. Our economy is growing at less than 1% per annum while our population is over 3% per annum. What a mismatch, a sure recipe for a preventable disaster,” he said.
In a statement to mark this year’s Christmas in which he shared on his timeline, he noted that while “governments at all levels struggle to contain this monster, it is our duty to encourage family planning and reduced numbers of children.”
According to him “If not, we remain perpetual victims of terrorism, militancy, prostitution, extreme poverty, and all other vices emanating from an uncontrolled population growth.”
Akpabio who is the chairman of the Akwa Ibom tourism and Hospitality board observed that “while people talk of opportunities of high populations or that corruption and mismanagement of our economy brought us to this level, the reality staring us in the face is that we are all heading towards disaster.”
Advising that Nigerians “must live a responsible life, he said there is no need having a population of 206 million people without the material resources to manage them,” saying Nigerians should act with decorum on issues of population.
“No matter how rich you are, remember you cannot build a university only for your children, these children of yours will also share our roads, hospitals, and will not exist in isolation.
“They will occupy spaces in all aspects of our lives meant for others and through your big man connections will grab all the well-paying employment opportunities available in our society depriving others.
“I strongly suggest not more than two children per woman for the next 30 years to salvage our dear country from its current position as the world’s number one nation with the highest percentage of extremely poor people.”
Describing 2020 as a most interesting year, he urged Nigerians while celebrating this year’s Christmas, to “let the events of 2020 make all of us plan better for 2021 and beyond.”
