Revisiting population issue in Nigeria

What spurred this article was in response to a comment that appeared in “THIS DAY” of June 23, 2010 written by Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi, obviously as part of ongoing arguments on the “missing girls of the world”. Mr. Ekwowusi believes that use of modern contraception is responsible for distortion of normal ratio between male and […]

What spurred this article was in response to a comment that appeared in “THIS DAY” of June 23, 2010 written by Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi, obviously as part of ongoing arguments on the “missing girls of the world”. Mr. Ekwowusi believes that use of modern contraception is responsible for distortion of normal ratio between male and female gender in China and in many western societies. He concluded that modern contraception leads to a decline in human family.

My problem with these statement is not only because they are not scientific (rare attribute in this country, of course), but are clearly irresponsible and unprofessional. According to current knowledge, apart from intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs), most, if not all, of the available modern contraceptives don’t interfere with the normal implantation of zygote (fertilized ovum). Even IUCD does not discriminate between male and female zygote. It is a random process determined by natural process. How, then, can contraception distor sex ratio? I also cannot even make inference as to what he meant by “population control through contraception leads to a decline in human family”.  

This statement is vague and means nothing. Perhaps he is referring to the ability of modern contraceptions to control family size subsequently leading to population control. If this is the case, what methods of population control is he recommending to Nigerians other than the usage of modern contraceptive methods? Anyway, I used the terms “irresponsible” and “unprofessional” due to lack of a more polite alternative, but not out of disrespect to the writer. I believe that Mr. Ekwowusi is truly patriotic and earnestly promoting what he thinks is the best for this country.

What led to the practice of selective fetocide, sporadically seen, in China was the introduction of a “one child” policy to control the rapid population growth that was threatening the wellbeing of their people. As expected, few people started reacting to this policy by aborting female fetuses in favor of males since they are only allowed to have a child. This rare practice was reported to have been causing a distortion of sex ratio. Even if this is true, then, what is the linkage between selective fetocide and modern contraception?

Of course, population size can translate into economic gain if the growing population is accompanied with stock of knowledge. A population that is redundant and illiterate can only lead to self destruction and stagnation as we are witnessing in this country. There is no evidence to claim that China’s growing economy is due to its population of 1.3 billion as the sole factor. To assume this, we can as well expect to experience similar change in India (1.1 billion people), Indonesia (243 million) and Nigeria (over 150 million). On the other hand, we should expect a rapid shrinkage of economic indices and total decay in quality of life in those western European countries with a small population size like France (62 million), Italy (60 million), Germany (82 million), Spain (46 million), the United Kingdom (61 million), Sweden (9.3 million), Norway (4.8 million) or even the state of Israel (7.6 million). But on the contrary, we have seen rapid economic development and better living conditions in those countries. The large volume of migrants (both legal and illegal) moving out of Africa, Asia and Latin America (where 90% of the world population live) seeking better life in western Europe and north America ( where only 10% of the world population live) is a clear and practical indication of lack of validity to the absolute population arguments.

If, at all, we wish to draw a correlation between population size and development in China, it is safer to say that China’s large population has placed a huge burden on the mental, social and economic wellbeing of an ordinary Chinese. It is also safe to say that the active population control measure in China has helped bought some level of sanity in the system.

Remember that I am not in support of the “one child” policy. The large volume of emigrants seen in China (both internal and external) proportional to its size is comparable to what we see in other countries of the world where local resources fall far short of their population size. Only last month, the Chinese government announced that up to 211 million local people have internally migrated looking for better opportunities such as healthcare, schools for their children and food. These are Chinese people who lack the opportunity to cross the national boundary.

They would have done so if they had the means. Over the last few months, we have witnessed a series of attacks on kindergartens in China due to a rising number of psychotics in that society, a situation linked to difficult conditions of life by most observers. Then, what are we referring to an improved family wellbeing in China? Keep in mind all these problems are seen in countries witnessing population explosion without a commensurate supporting social system, including Nigeria. But Mr Ekwowusi, can you see that there is a problem in China if countless Chinese businessmen are competing with Igbo traders at Onitsha main market? Do you know the level of stress and psychological trauma involved, even, when a northern Nigeria man relocates to Onitsha city (not to talk of the main market)? Do you really understand the mechanism behind emigration, both internal and external emigration visa vice “Push” and “Pull” factors?

And surprisingly, no one among the proponents of overpopulation has ever suggested the optimum population size that is critical for rapid growth and development. If we know this, we would increase our fertility rate and populate the land to that critical optimum so that we get out of our present difficulties. What is apparent to us is that, since after independence in this country, and as the population grows uncontrollably, quality of life has continued to fall very fast. It is obvious we cannot manage our population (even without corruption) given the limited resources at our disposal. Even if the government is functioning responsibly; building more primary and secondary schools, higher institutions of learning and creating employment, we will not be able to keep pace with the rapidly expanding population, let alone when nothing is being done. No wonder we have been witnessing rising rates of crime and insecurity, kidnappings, a lack of schooling opportunities for our children and young men, unemployment, religious and ethnic crises, wars and hunger, environmental degradation, and subsequently, decay in moral and family values. This is what Thomas Malthus referred to as “positive checks” as a consequence of uncontrolled population growth, which we cannot deny.

Dr Mohammed Salisu Ishaku, No. 3     Queen Amina road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, [email protected]