The National Population Commission (NPC) has approached President Bola Tinubu, seeking an additional N225.2 billion for a smooth national population and housing census. NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra made the request during a briefing at the State House, Abuja. The additional funds would cover training, fieldwork allowances, retraining of trainers, and the conduct of a trial census. President Tinubu acknowledged the increasing urban population due to poverty and unemployment in rural areas and expressed his support for the Commission’s efforts to conduct an accurate census. He emphasized the need for credible and reliable census data and urged the NPC to take advantage of digital technology.
President Buhari expressed concern over the delay in conducting a new enumeration since 2006 and encouraged the NPC to capitalize on the benefits of the electronic and digital age. He assured the NPC of his support, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for national development. The NPC Chairman highlighted the challenges faced by the Commission, including funding constraints and the need for a new census date. He informed the President about the progress made in terms of demarcation and training, and the request for the release of the allocated capital allocation for preparatory activities.
The NPC estimated the total cost of the census at N546.72 billion and requested President Tinubu’s approval to convene a stakeholders meeting with the private sector and foreign partners to gather funds. The Commission also highlighted the potential of their database for national planning, infrastructure development, and revenue generation. After the meeting, President Tinubu pledged his support and indicated that he would inform the Commission about the new census dates after reviewing the report presented to him. The NPC expressed gratitude for the President’s support and stressed the significance of data for national planning and development.