The Senate has passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to sensitise Nigerians on the need for family planning so as to contain the population explosion in the country.

Passing the resolution on Thursday, the Senate also mandated its Committee on National Identity and National Population Commission to liaise closely with the FG, with a view to articulating a clear policy on population control.

The upper chamberntasked the FG to take steps not to only check the increasing population growth, but to also seek measures to reverse the trend.

Senator Isa Misau of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, who brought the motion, identified the grave need for integration of national policy on population with overall development planning in the interest of the country.

Speaking on the motion, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, representing Bayelsa East, said: “Nigeria will explode if she keeps increasing in population. Birth control or family planning cannot help curb over-population in Nigeria but education.”

Bruce added that 1 per cent of the annual budget set aside for the education sector is not enough, advising that it must be increased to 5 per cent.

Contributing, the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, of Osun Central, described the motion as the best so far in the 8th Senate, saying: “I support the motion with every drop of my blood and every cell in my body frame. God will not be responsible for human irresponsibility and that was why he gave us brains.”

•Photo shows Senator Isa Misau.