President Bola Tinubu is set to announce fresh dates for the national population and housing census, which was previously postponed in April. Expressing disappointment with the delay, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of conducting an accurate and credible census, while urging the National Population Commission (NPC) to prioritize data integrity.
During a briefing from NPC Chairman Nasir Kwarra, President Tinubu highlighted the potential benefits of leveraging the current electronic and digital age to streamline the census process. He encouraged the NPC to embrace digitalization, emphasizing the need for a reliable database in Nigeria to facilitate effective planning and disaster management.
The NPC Chairman informed the president that the commission was on the verge of conducting final training for the census but faced challenges due to the transition to a new government and funding constraints. As a result, the exercise was postponed by his predecessor. President Tinubu is expected to personally announce the new dates for the national census based on the report submitted to him.
Kwarra disclosed that the commission might require additional financial provisions due to the extended delay, with the cost of the census estimated at N546.72 billion after a methodology review. He also requested the release of the N31 billion capital allocation from the 2023 budget for preparatory activities. Furthermore, Kwarra sought the president’s approval for an additional N225.2 billion to cover training, fieldwork allowances, retraining of trainers, and the conduct of a second-class trial census.
To secure funding, the NPC Chairman requested the president’s support in convening a stakeholders meeting involving the organized private sector and foreign partners. This collaborative effort aims to galvanize funds necessary for the successful execution of the census.