By Muhammad Amaan
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has called on Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to convene the National Council on Population Management (NCPM), as a matter of national priority.
This call was made by the Coordinator of AHBN, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba during the Population Technical Working Group (PTWG) Expanded Stakeholder Debriefing and Strategic Engagement Meeting held in Abuja.
Represented by AHBN’s Budget and Communications Specialist, Sadiq Malami, Dr Magashi appealed to President Tinubu to convene the NCPM meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the Council.
Speaking during a high-level panel discussion, the AHBN emphasised the need for stronger political leadership and coordinated action to address Nigeria’s evolving demographic realities.
Malami, who participated as a panelist during the strategic dialogue, underscored the urgency of activating the Council as a critical platform for driving evidence-informed population governance and sustainable national development.
He noted that while the institutional framework for the National Council on Population Management is already in place, the current realities facing Nigeria make its convening more urgent than ever.
Malami stressed that rapid population growth, rising insecurity, unemployment, climate change, urbanization, and increasing pressure on healthcare, education, food systems, housing, and other critical public services require coordinated, high-level policy decisions that can only be achieved through a functional National Council on Population Management.
“Nigeria’s demographic realities require coordinated leadership at the highest level. While the National Population Commission has already submitted a formal request for the convening of the Council, I propose the establishment of a high-level follow-up task team to support sustained engagement on the request by strategically leveraging influential government offices, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Vice President, and other key champions who can help maintain momentum towards convening the Council,” he said.
Malami further noted that convening the National Council on Population Management would provide a strategic platform for aligning population policies with national development priorities, strengthening intergovernmental coordination, and accelerating evidence-based decision-making.
According to him, this would enable Nigeria to better respond to emerging demographic challenges while harnessing its growing population as a driver of economic growth, human capital development, improved security, and sustainable national development.
The AHBN also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting evidence-based advocacy, strategic partnerships, and accountability mechanisms that promote effective population governance and contribute to improved health, economic, and development outcomes for all Nigerians.
