The population of Nigeria is estimated at 198 million, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Mr. Eze Duruiheoma has disclosed in New York.

He was delivering Nigeria’s statement on sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration at the 51st session of commission on population and development.

Duruiheoma said urban population was growing at an average annual rate of about 6.5 percent, adding that teenagers, women of child-bearing age and the working age population, were more engaged in urbanisation.

“Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million,” Duruiheoma said according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

“The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.
“Over the last 50 years, Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 percent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure.

“It grew substantially from 17.3 in 1967 to 49.4 percent in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most of the population – 70 percent – will be residing in cities.

“The 2010 human mobility Survey report revealed that 23 percent of the sampled population was of more females than males.”
Duruiheoma said an estimated 1.76m internally displaced persons (IDPs) are from states in the six north-east.

According to him, existing urbanisation trend coupled with IDPs in cities, pose critical challenges to securing sustainability of our cities.

He said like in other developing countries, Nigerian cities host widespread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 percent, citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2017 report.

“The 2010 human mobility Survey report revealed that 23 percent of the sampled population were of more females than males.”
Duruiheoma said an estimated 1.76m internally displaced persons (IDPs) are from states in the six north-east.
According to him, existing urbanisation trend coupled with IDPs in cities, pose critical challenges to securing sustainability of our cities.

He said like in other developing countries, Nigerian cities host widespread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 percent, citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2017 report.

The last census in Nigeria was conducted in 2006 and it is being anticipated that another Census may be conducted this year.