Stakeholders for the advancement of Family Planning (FP) in Nigeria have reiterated the need to use Family Planning concept to regulate the explosive population growth in Nigeria.
The stakeholders said this in Abuja, at the 5th Local Organising Committee (LOC) meeting on the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference (NFPC) which is scheduled to hold in December.
The stakeholders comprised of some civil society organisations (CSOs), government agencies and the media.
Dr Okai Aku, a member of the LOC, and the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), said that the conference was a biennial event.
Aku said it would discuss modalities for promoting family planning concepts for the economic benefit of Nigerians.
According to him, the conference will be discussing so many things on family planning, ranging from policies and remodelling of policies towards the concept.
“The population crisis is actually facing us now; we have to think of the best investment in terms of managing our population with the application of the concept of family planning or child spacing.
“We are not saying that people should stop giving birth, but when you have a manageable population, you will know how to provide essential services.
“We will also be speaking to decision makers as it relates to policies on family planning; and also, sensitise service providers on the need to provide quality services for the people,” he said.
Aku said that the stakeholders would also try to demystify misconceptions and myths about family planning.
“We will sensitise Nigerians on the need for everyone to embrace family planning, and how it can be used for planning and development of a country,” he said.
He said that family planning concept could also alleviate poverty, assist in budget planning and in the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Aku said that Nigeria would be better off investing in the family planning concept.
He said that Nigeria had committed itself to the promotion of family planning since the 2012 London summit, adding that there was need for the country to meet up with its commitment.
The Chairman of the LOC, Dr Ejike Oji, said that the conference would look at government effort through the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, to transform the healthcare sector.
Oji said that the conference would also focus on happenings in the global arena as regards commitments made by Nigeria.
By Aderogba George
