Life expectancy in Nigeria’s youthful population rises

Nigerians who are 60 years and above currently represent less than five per cent of the entire population, while overall life expectancy is 55.2 years, the National Population Commission (NPC), reveals.

This is a slight bounce from the the 54.5 years recorded in 2018.

The Acting Chairman of NPC, Alhaji Hassan Bashir, stated in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), life expectancy is the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live.

Bashir added: “As you may be aware, Nigeria estimated population is currently at over 198 million with an annual growth rate of 3.2 per cent.

“The total Fertility Rate remains at 5.5 per woman; 63 per cent of the entire population is under the age of 25; 42 per cent is under the age of 15 years.

“Fifty per cent of the female population is in the reproductive years, while 54.8 per cent of the population constitutes the working age,” the Nigerian population chief said.

According to him, Nigeria recently concluded the field work of its national demography and health survey in 2018 and while it awaits the outcome of that survey, early and child marriage still persists.

He said data available indicated that unintended and unwanted pregnancies were common as 23 per cent of the adolescent girl age 15 to 19 years have commenced reproduction.

Bashir said the situation had put women, especially young girls, at risk of maternal death which stands at 576 deaths per 100,000 live births.

He added that 61 per cent of women of reproductive age who had live births within this period received antenatal care from skilled providers.

However, only 36 per cent of them had their deliveries in health facilities and 38 per cent of the deliveries were attended to by skilled birth assistants, he said.

He explained that the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) had been conducted regularly with plans to conduct a census during the 2020 round of census.

Bashir, however, bemoaned the major challenge of unavailability of timely information and robust disaggregated data for tracking progress aimed at achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Some of our critical concerns include addressing the needs of over 66 million adolescents and young people, aged 10 to 24 years (half of whom are girls) to gain access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health information and age appropriate services.

“There is also the need to address the contraceptive needs of 14 million internally displaced persons affected by increasing insecurity, as well as the needs of over 13.2 million out-of-school children including school-drop-outs due to unintended pregnancies.”

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, also delivered a statement on behalf of African Group, in which he said Africa recognised the urgent need to unleash the creative initiative and energy of its large youth population.

Bande, Chairman, African Group, UN, said Africa remained committed to cooperating internationally to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of all migrants.

“To this effect, the African Group supports the free movement of people and goods within countries as it foster rural-urban inter-linkages, and regional integration,” he said.

According to him, African Group emphasised the need for developed countries to promote policies that foster the integration and reintegration of migrants and returning migrants.