Highlights:

• High unmet need for family planning among urban women in Nigeria, at 20%, is contributing to rapid population growth and unsustainable urbanization. 
• Multi-sectoral approaches to urban governance are essential for effectively addressing the complex challenges of urban development in Nigeria.
• Integrating family planning into urban development initiatives is crucial for achieving sustainable urbanization and socio-economic development.
• Developing a policy framework for inter-sectoral collaboration between family planning and urban development is necessary to guide and enhance sustainable urbanization efforts.
• Meeting the family planning needs of vulnerable urban populations, such as the urban poor, slum residents, adolescents, and young people, is critical for sustainable urban development in Nigeria.

Background:

Nigeria is undergoing rapid urbanization, facing challenges like limited economic opportunities, poverty, and environmental degradation in many cities. As the urban population is projected to exceed 70% by 2050, sustainable urban development strategies are vital. A recent study on family planning and urban development in Nigeria underscores the crucial role of family planning in addressing unsustainable urbanization. The high fertility rates, driven by a substantial unmet need for family planning, significantly contribute to rapid urban population growth.

Recognizing the importance of family planning in achieving sustainable urbanization, the study highlights the necessity for policy measures that integrate family planning into urban development initiatives. This integration necessitates a multi-sectoral approach to urban governance, the development of policy frameworks for intersectoral collaboration, and the prioritisation of family planning for vulnerable urban populations. By incorporating family planning into urban planning policies and emphasizing its role in population and sustainable development agendas, Nigeria can lead the way towards healthy and prosperous cities.

Currently, millions of urban residents in Nigeria live in precarious conditions, leading to limited economic opportunities, poverty, and environmental degradation. The high fertility rate, coupled with a significant unmet need for family planning, worsens rapid population growth, strains resources, and hinders sustainable urbanization efforts. The research project aims to explore the link between family planning and urban development in Nigeria to identify policy pathways leveraging family planning to foster sustainable urbanization. By understanding how family planning can address population growth and promote healthy urban environments, the project aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, program implementers, and stakeholders. These recommendations will guide interventions that enhance urban development through family planning initiatives, ultimately leading to sustainable urban environments in Nigeria.

Methods:

This study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 in Nigeria on family planning and urban development and used a mixed-methods approach. This included a retrospective policy analysis of FP and UD policies from 2000–2020, a literature review, and interviews with 37 key informants in Ibadan and Kaduna, two southern and northern cities that have witnessed several intervention programmes. The study was part of a larger project in multiple sub-Saharan African countries, providing insights into integrating family planning into urban development initiatives in Nigeria.

Key Findings:

1. The main factor driving rapid urbanization in Nigeria is the natural population increase, which is further exacerbated by high rates of unintended pregnancies and unwanted births.
2. There is a high unmet need for family planning among currently married women in urban Nigeria, at 20%.
3. Family planning services can empower women economically and contribute to achieving national development goals.
4. Stakeholders in the family planning and urban development sectors recognize the importance of multi-sectoral actions to address urban governance challenges, but systemic barriers hinder collaboration.
5. Family planning is currently not regarded as a crucial component in urban development initiatives, which causes unintended pregnancies to drive urbanization at an accelerated rate.
6. There is a lack of an appropriate policy framework to guide intersectoral collaboration and the incorporation of family planning into development initiatives.

Policy Pathways:

1. Adopt a multi-sectoral approach to urban governance in Nigeria.
2. Incorporate family planning into urban development initiatives to promote sustainable socio-economic development.
3. Develop a policy framework for intersectoral collaboration between family planning and urban development.
4. Meet the family planning needs of vulnerable urban populations, including the urban poor, slum residents, adolescents, and young people.
5. Revise urban and housing policies to clearly stipulate the role of family planning in urban development.
6. Highlight the importance of family planning in urban development in Nigeria's policy on population for sustainable development.

Conclusion:

The integration of family planning into urban development initiatives is vital for achieving sustainable urbanization in Nigeria. Addressing the high unmet need for family planning among urban women is crucial to controlling rapid population growth, empowering women economically, and promoting overall development goals. By adopting a multi-sectoral approach to urban governance, developing policy frameworks for intersectoral collaboration, and prioritizing the family planning needs of vulnerable urban populations, Nigeria can create healthier and more prosperous cities. It is imperative to revise urban policies, highlight the importance of family planning in urban development, and pave the way for a sustainable future where urbanization is inclusive, equitable, and supportive of population and development agendas.

Learn more:

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/HBtKwoA_jXk

Acknowledgments:

The research for this paper was funded by a fellowship from the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) as part of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant OPP1179495, aimed at supporting research and policy engagement on fertility and family planning in urban development.