The Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, says considerable progress has been achieved in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
Kwarra said this while speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on Population and Development (ICPD).
Kwarra stated that GBV was a global issue that remained a priority and that the Federal Government had made significant strides in aligning national policies with the goals of the ICPD and the commitments renewed in Nairobi.
According to him, strategic investments have been made to expand access to high-quality maternal and child health services, grounded in the belief that women’s health is critical to national prosperity.
Kwarra noted that in spite of the progress, much work remained to be done.
According to him, a major setback is the delay in conducting a population and housing census, which has hindered efforts to assess population needs and allocate resources effectively.
Nasir Kwarra, announced plans to conduct Nigeria’s population and housing census in 2025, nearly two decades after the last census in 2006.
He said the government, at the highest level, is committed to conducting the census exercise emphasizing the impact of the delay, particularly in hampering informed decision-making and effective resource allocation.
The NPC chairman also highlighted the need for accurate data to address pressing issues in rural and underserved areas.
The Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Koessan Kuawu, commended Nigeria’s achievements but emphasized that significant challenges persist.