Board adopts revised population policy

The revised draft of a new population policy was yesterday received and adopted by the Board of the National Population Commission. The old population policy has since expired.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, noted that the ceremony marked a milestone in a journey that began in 2015. He maintained that following the expiration of the population policy and changes witnessed across the country, there was need for a revised policy.

He commended HP+, the USAID funded project which provided financial and technical support for the exercise saying without the group’s support the project would not have been possible.

Duruiheoma added that it was not enough to have a policy but always better when such was accompanied with an implementation plan.

“That is why I am excited that the team did not only produce a revised policy but also a strategic implementation plan’’, he said.

The Country Director of HP+, Mr Onoriode Ezire, said there was no way Nigeria could appropriately address developmental issues in the country, if current developments were not properly captured. He said it was in view of such, that the HP+ supported the commission to revise and come up with an implementable policy.

Following the adoption, the document will be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval and launch.

Photo: NPC Chairman, Population Management Committee of the National Population Commission, Alh. Yusuf Anka (3rd left); Chairman, Board of the Commission, Eze Duruiheoma (middle); Country Director, HP+, Onoriode Ezire (5th left); Professor Rhoda Mundi (6th left)and Mr Sani Ali Gar, a director at the commission (7th left), after the adoption of the Revised Population Policy in Abuja yesterday