President Bola Tinubu has announced the formation of a committee to align the national census budget with Nigeria’s current financial realities.
The decision followed a meeting at the State House, Abuja, where officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, briefed the President on the status of the census.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed details of the meeting in a statement titled Nigeria Moves Closer to Fresh Census, President Tinubu to Set Up Committee.
Since Nigeria’s last population and housing census in November 2006, the country has faced multiple delays in conducting a fresh count.
The NPC has introduced new technology—such as digital mapping and biometric data capture—to enhance accuracy, but challenges like insufficient funding, insecurity, and the impact of COVID-19 have repeatedly stalled the process.
The 2023 census was postponed due to budget constraints and political transitions, leaving the process unfinished before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, the government remains committed to rescheduling the census but faces challenges regarding timing, methodology, and how best to include Nigeria’s large mobile population, including internally displaced persons.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a definite path,” President Tinubu stated during the meeting. He emphasized the need for a critical review of the funding source and application of resources. “Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?” he asked.
The President stressed the importance of an accurate census for effective governance and planning.
He noted that without reliable data, addressing critical areas such as employment, agriculture, and food security would remain difficult.
“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty,” Tinubu said.
He directed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) be included in the review process, emphasizing the need for biometric capturing with multiple identification features, including facial and voice recognition.
He also urged the government to explore available financial resources before seeking support from development partners.
“We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners,” he stated.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, affirmed Tinubu’s commitment to conducting the census, highlighting that funding constraints remain the primary obstacle.
“At a retreat for the ministers in 2023, Mr. President, you reiterated your commitment to the census. At the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me what the problem was, and I told you it was simply an issue of lack of ability to fund the census,” Bagudu explained.
The minister revealed that in 2006, development partners contributed about 40% of the census funding, indicating the need for similar external support for the upcoming census.
READ ALSO: Senate Calls for Urgent National Census, Seeks Tinubus Approval
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration among key data agencies, including the NPC, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), NIMC, Ministry of Digital Economy, voter registration authorities, telecom operators, and the National Space Research and Development Agency.
These efforts aim to optimize government resources and ensure better integration of available data.
NPC Chairman Nasir Kwarra underscored the urgency of conducting a new census, as the 19-year-old data from 2006 is no longer relevant for effective planning.
He revealed that 760,000 tablets had been acquired and stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria for census operations and assured that the commission would engage development partners for additional support once President Tinubu proclaims the new census.
The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a credible and technology-driven census that will provide accurate demographic data essential for national planning and development.