Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Eze Duruihueoma, has raised concern over the increasing rates of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.
Duruiheoma who spoke at the 51st session of Commission on Population and Development in New York said that poverty and unemployment have risen to an average of 18.4 %
He also drew attention to the discomforting rise of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. According to the displacement tracking matrix XXI of January 2018, IDPs were estimated at 1.7 million across 321,580 households within the North Eastern part of the country, with 40 percent residing in camp-like settings in urban areas plus 1.4 million returnees.
Duruiheoma also underscored the peculiar vulnerability of women and children in this ticking time bomb, saying: “We acknowledge that women, children and particularly the girl child are often the most vulnerable”.
The NPC chairman, however, enumerated the efforts his commission, and the Buhari government were making to improve the general well-being of these vulnerable population while focusing working to address the larger problems that give rise to IDPs in the first place.
He emphasised on government’s commitment to ensuring adequate delivery of health care services, reducing maternal mortality, rebuilding of schools, securing such schools, and empowering women as well.
Photo Credit: Quartz Africa
