Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) Nigeria has called on governments and other stakeholders to remove financial, geographical and social barriers preventing Nigerians from accessing quality contraceptive information and services.
AAFP Nigeria Chairman, Dr Ejike Oji, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to mark World Contraception Day.
The 2026 campaign is being observed under the theme, “No Barriers, Just Choices: Contraceptive Access Now.”
Oji, who is also Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2026 Nigeria Family Planning Conference, said the theme highlighted the right of people to make informed and voluntary decisions about when and how many children to have.
He said Nigerians should have access to a broad range of safe, effective and affordable contraceptive methods without discrimination, coercion or unnecessary restrictions.
Despite progress in expanding family planning services, Oji said many Nigerians still face barriers including service and transport costs, stock-outs, limited contraceptive choices, inadequate information, stigma, myths and misconceptions.
He also identified provider bias, restrictive social norms and inadequate youth-friendly services as obstacles to contraceptive access.
According to him, these barriers disproportionately affect people in rural and underserved communities, adolescents and young people, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and households with limited financial resources.
“Contraceptive access is essential healthcare and a fundamental component of the right to make informed decisions about one’s health and future,” Oji said. “No Nigerian should be denied the opportunity to choose a contraceptive method because of poverty, location, age, disability, marital status or social stigma.”
He called for sustained government and donor financing for family planning, uninterrupted supplies of quality-assured contraceptive methods and stronger family planning services at primary healthcare facilities and through community-based programmes.
Oji also urged stakeholders to provide accurate, evidence-based and age-appropriate information through trusted channels and expand confidential, respectful and youth-friendly services.
He called for training and support for healthcare providers to deliver voluntary, non-judgmental and person-centred counselling.
The AAFP chairman further urged stakeholders to improve access for persons with disabilities, displaced populations and communities affected by conflict or humanitarian emergencies.
He called for greater engagement with men, community leaders, traditional and religious institutions and young people to address myths, misinformation and stigma.
Oji also advocated the use of digital platforms to expand access to family planning information and services. “As Nigeria marks World Contraception Day 2026, AAFP Nigeria reiterates its commitment to working with partners to advance universal access to voluntary, high-quality family planning information and services,” he said.
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