The Federal Government has announced plans to begin the local production of family planning commodities as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, create jobs and harness its youthful population for economic growth.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in Abuja while inaugurating the Nigeria FP2030 High-Level Inter-Ministerial Platform on Family Planning, Health, Human Capital and National Development.
According to a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations to the minister, the platform will strengthen coordination among government institutions and drive the local production of family planning materials.
Pate described the initiative as an important milestone for Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, saying local production would reduce dependence on imported commodities, create employment opportunities for young Nigerians and retain more economic value within the country.
He said Nigeria’s population, estimated at about 230 million, remains its greatest asset but requires deliberate investment in health, education, skills and empowerment to become a productive resource.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s population is projected to reach between 450 million and 500 million by 2050, making investments in human capital increasingly important.
Pate said the inter-ministerial platform would adopt a life-course approach, addressing the needs of Nigerians from adolescence through adulthood, parenthood and old age.
He identified the roles of several ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Budget and Economic Planning, Finance, Women Affairs, Education and Youth Development, as well as the National Population Commission.
The minister also stressed the importance of primary healthcare, particularly access to maternal, newborn and child health services, saying improved healthcare and family planning could help families make informed decisions about their desired family size.
He urged the National Orientation Agency to strengthen public awareness, community engagement and efforts to counter misinformation that could undermine health interventions.
Pate said the platform must move beyond meetings to deliver concrete and measurable outcomes, including improved financing and implementation at the state and local government levels.
He also called on state governments to increase investments in health, family planning and human capital development.
The Managing Director of FP2030 West and Central Africa Office, Dr Alain Damiba, commended the Federal Government for establishing the platform, describing it as a step towards greater collaboration, accountability and evidence-based decision-making.
Damiba said family planning and health should not be viewed solely as health-sector responsibilities, but as critical components of national development.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, also called for coordinated policies, aligned investments and shared accountability among ministries, departments and agencies.
She urged members of the platform to focus on practical and measurable actions that would strengthen collaboration and advance Nigeria’s development goals.
Stakeholders from relevant federal ministries, the National Population Commission, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and civil society organisations pledged their support for the initiative.
