Abstract

PIP: There are signs in Nigeria that the family planning message is making powerful headway in the markets and the streets. In 1981 the majority of Nigeria's traditional leaders were wary of family planning, and the media largely ignored the topic. By 1984 Nigerian newspapers had highlighted the country's unchecked population growth, and in 1986 most Nigeria's 19 states have family planning programs. The Futures Group of Washington's 1985 report assessed the effects of population growth on Nigeria's social and economic development. This report, part of the Resources for the Awareness of Population Impact on Development series, projected the impact of restrained and unrestrained population growth on such areas as food production, fuel wood resources, petroleum, education, health, urban growth, and housing. The report drew criticism for being overly pessimistic, yet it had a positve effect on the spread of family planning activities. UN estimates project that at the present growth rate of 3.2% a year, Nigeria's population will double in 22 years to 186 million. A recently developed program of family planning initiatives already is in place in several states with technical assistance and funding from the Population Communication Services of John Hopkins University. Pictorial booklets on oral contraceptives (OCs), IUDs, and condoms now are available in Nigeria's 4 major languages. Demand for these booklets among Ministry of Health clinic personnel already has exceeded the limited supplies. While the Nigerian media have highlighted unchecked population growth since 1984 news papers have been more generous in their coverage than radio and television.