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ABUJA, Nigeria - President Bola Tinubu officially launched a high-level committee on the upcoming national population and housing census on Wednesday, instructing the panel to provide an interim report within three weeks.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, during the event at the State House in Abuja, emphasized the importance of the census in national development, accurate economic planning, and informed decision-making in sectors such as healthcare, education, and security.
The last census in Nigeria was conducted in 2006, almost two decades ago, recording a population of 140,431,790, which comprised 71,345,488 males and 69,086,302 females. President Tinubu underscored the crucial role of a technology-centric approach to achieve credible and verifiable results and stressed the necessity for coordination among all relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Highlighting the important aspect of financing for the endeavor, the President urged committee members to explore both domestic and international funding options.
“Engage with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which must lead this process, as accurate budgeting relies on population data,” he stated.
He also expressed expectations for addressing the technological components of the census, noting the need for it to be conducted using modern technology, including biometrics and digitalization.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and chair of the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census, Senator Atiku Bagudu, conveyed the committee’s commitment to delivering its report within the specified three-week period.
Bagudu recalled President Tinubu's earlier guidance to ministers in 2003 to be innovative and utilize available resources despite tough economic circumstances.
He pointed out that Nigeria is making consistent progress under the Tinubu administration, despite global economic challenges, citing improvements in foreign exchange stability and growth trends.
The committee aims to propose practical solutions and strategies to mobilize both domestic and international resources for financing the census.
Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, also a committee member, stressed that accurate data is vital for effective planning in all sectors, asserting that a reliable census forms the basis for such data.
Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and the committee's secretary,Nasir Isa Kwarra, mentioned that the commission has already started preparations for the national population and housing census in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other key stakeholders.
He assured Nigerians that the NPC is dedicated to ensuring a credible and technologically advanced enumeration that will aid in effective national planning and development.
The eight-member committee comprises the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the President’s Principal Private Secretary, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations.
