May 24, 2011 7:34 AM | By Sapa-AFP
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special adviser, Jeffrey Sachs, on Monday warned Nigeria against population explosion, saying the current figure of 158 million could balloon to 730 million by 2100.
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Photograph by: DAVID KARP
Credit: AP
I am really scared about population explosion in Nigeria. It is not healthy. Nigeria should work towards attaining a maximum of three children per family
He told the meeting earlier that an increased annual economic growth rate from the current seven percent, encouragement of integrated development in economy, agriculture, urban and rural sectors, provision of a good health system, education, power, railway, could see the country become one of the most important economies in the 21st century.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who will on Sunday begin a four-year mandate, told the meeting, made up of captains of industry, manufacturers, businessmen, ministers and top officials that he will lead his country's economic team.
"After my inauguration on Sunday, I will directly chair the economic team" to be composed of key government and private sector members.
He said that his new administration was determined to take decisive steps in order to transform the nation.
"As a nation we have no choice," he said.
Jonathan, who came into office in May last year following the death of president Umaru Yar'Adua, said that the west African nation had no business importing rice in the next four years.
Nigeria imports rice from Asian countries, especially Thailand, and neighbouring Benin.
His government, he said, would "strongly discourage the importation of products that are either being produced or can be produced in Nigeria", including fertilisers, petroleum products, petrochemicals and iron and steel.
Africa's largest oil producer also imports refined petroleum products because its four refineries are ill-performing.
The unemployment rate in Nigeria is more than 21 percent, he said, adding that if government failed to plan for its ever growing population "we will be in trouble".
National Planning Minister Shamsudeen Usman said the poverty rate in Nigeria was close to 50 percent.
Agriculture and manufacturing sectors contribute more than 40 percent and five percent respectively to the GDP per annum, he said.
Government projects that GDP will grow at an average of 11.7 percent per annum between 2011 and 2015, Usman said.
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Let me get this right: South Korea (from where Ban Ki Moon comes) area: 100,210 km, pop: 48m (density 491/km.sq) is not overpopulated while Nigeria area: 923,768 km, pop: 153million (density 165/km.sq) has to be lectured on its population!!!!
MOON IS A RAVING LUNATIC - WHICH IS WHY HE IS BOSSMAN OF USELESS NATIONS
IMHO history will report the ANC's greatest failing was their failure to reduce teenage pregnancy. However note what the IQ challenged jelly tostsi says about this, not to mention what the one who always seems to have mislaid his machine gun, while the machine gun in his boxers is pretty quick on the draw.
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