POPULATION RISE IS NOT OUR PROBLEM BUT THE POLICIES

Source: Flat Rock

By Davy Fidel

Writer/Freelance

In Nigeria, at a time, the propaganda branding some news is that our population and our tongue is our problem. That Nigeria is made up of 250 ethnic groups and a population of 180 million is the reason why we are having ethnic clashes unravelling among people. 

To a lot of people, this propaganda might be true. But on the other hand, it is not. The government has repeatedly used these ethnic differences to divide people. They have used it to control people and say it is our tongue, our tribe are what is the problem. 

However, the fact confronting us is that the problem of people, if we look at it carefully, is not our languages but what to eat, drink, and how to have a good life. This is what people want in life not what the government is propagating.

Many communal clashes, which had occurred in most communities, wasn't because of the overpopulated areas but poor living conditions. It is like saying the high cases of violence, drugs and gang war, as it is occurring in many countries is because of overpopulation. 

If that is the case. China today is recording 1.5 billion people and India 1.3 billion, which is one-quarter of the world population. Although, the living conditions of people in these parts of the continent is no different from other countries despite the claim that China is an example of an industrial nation. 

But that is not the issue. China and India are also worse countries with poor living conditions, which the media don't usually report. The worse fear of this population growth is the consequences of the explosion. This is not because the population rise is bad but the contradiction in government policies. 

This contradiction is what has formed China's government to implement a "one-child policy" against the rise of the population. It was revealed that China's government introduce this policy to control the rise of population, now and in the future. The policy is policing people not to have more than one child. 

The policy is to "slow" the population growth, which largely has consequences. For the government, it is the best approach i.e the "one-child policy." But the consequence of this policy is that it will slow down the China economy as some reports have it. That in the years ahead, with the "one-child policy" China shall be having an ageing population.

In this regard, research reveals that China ageing population shall be a huge crisis the government shall face. This consequence is because China's government have preferred to protect private properties despite the enormous resources the country has. 

This is not peculiar to China but also to India that was mentioned. Sighting both countries is to consider the population rise in Nigeria. By 2050, Nigeria shall be 450 to 500 million people. And the same fear also confronts us, which revolves around the question of development.

Currently, the Nigerian population is 180 million but we are more than that. And if Nigeria is 180 million now and the poverty gap is widening each day, it means in 2030 upwards, it will be disasters. It will be barbaric especially for people living under the poverty line. 

This is not out of prognosis but what the current realities are revealing. More than 35 per cent (0-14 above) of the Nigerian population are youths, who are unemployed, jobless and fighting to have a future in an economy where the government has refused to have business in the affairs of the people. 

The speculation is that population rise especially Nigeria having youth, which makes up the highest per cent shall have consequences; if the necessary provision of welfare is not properly put in place. Nigeria records the highest number of suicide in the past few years. 

Only in 2019, the number of persons who took their lives out of the mental crisis, which is linked to economic frustration was "7,019." The males were "5,110" and females were "1,909." This is outside the fact that suicide cases in Nigeria are not properly documented because the government don't see it necessary to address the problem.

If in 2019, Nigeria recorded this number of persons who had committed suicide. It means it is more than what the media is reporting. More persons have taken their lives in the last 10-15 years due to the hardship they are facing and they are unable to feat their expectations as young people.

This is not because they want to take their lives. Or because our population is the problem. It is due to the failed policies of government to improve lives and provide the necessary welfare amidst the abundance surrounding us. People on daily basis facing these challenges are forced to see that option as a way out. 

Population rise is a sign of development but what has continued to be the problem is the system and the policies implemented. The same thing occurs in the US, UK and other European countries at a time, which prompt why the "Mathus theory" was adopted and embraced. 

This was done to control population rise to protect the profit and businesses of a few persons. It was made to shift the problem of what to eat, drink, and shelter for people to provide for themselves and their families. Mathus theory was a contradiction and it doesn't solve the problem.

Nigeria is heading towards that future disaster if nothing is done to solve the problem of underdevelopment. The current realities depict that. It reveals the situation confronting the country e.g. Insecurity, unemployment and underdevelopment. If this situation persists, as reiterated, the year 2030 upwards shall be worse fear for people.

People should realize despite it is the right of each individual to have children or not. However, such a decision is subject to the fear of what confronts us i.e how to provide health, education, shelter, good living etc. to our families. This is what the government of today had left for people to cater alone. 

This is despite the plenty of resources the world has. Yet, the world resources are controlled by few persons while millions of people died in hunger. Nigeria heading to hit 500 million and the third populated countries, is awaiting the disaster that will require people, not to buy into the propaganda that population rise is our problem.

Rather, it is to throw away such propaganda and challenge the policies of the government. It is to demand government use our resources to improve social welfare and economic development. If not, what shall befallen Nigeria shall be worse that people will have to eat each other. That the country would not be able to contain the population explosion awaiting us.