Ahead of Nigeria’s planned national population and housing census, President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring accurate and reliable data for effective development planning and improved social security.
Speaking at a meeting with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu stressed the need for biometric and digital integration into the census process to determine the country’s precise population figures. He also emphasized the importance of aligning the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with the exercise.
“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we cannot successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty. Many problems arise without accurate data,” the President stated, according to his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Establishing a Census Budget Committee
Tinubu announced plans to establish a committee to align the census budget with the government’s financial capacity before engaging development partners for additional funding.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. We need a definite path. I will set up a committee to critically examine the issues, assess our resources, and determine what we can fund before seeking external support,” he added.
The President underscored the necessity of biometric capturing, incorporating multiple identification features such as facial and voice recognition. He further noted that government incentives, including fertilizer distribution, could be improved with more reliable demographic data.
Funding and Integration of Identity Management Systems
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed Tinubu’s dedication to conducting the census, highlighting its significance for future planning and resource allocation.
“At the 2023 ministers’ retreat, Mr. President reiterated his commitment to the census. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, he asked me about the delay, and I explained that it was due to funding constraints. However, the NPC and all stakeholders must determine the minimum amount required to support Mr. President in making a final decision,” Bagudu said.
He recalled that in the 2006 census, 40% of the funding came from development partners. He also emphasized ongoing efforts to integrate various identity management agencies, including the NPC, NIMC, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ministry of Digital Economy, passport registry, social register, voter register, telecoms data, and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Urgency of the Census Exercise
NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra highlighted the urgency of conducting the census, stating that 19 years had passed since the last enumeration in 2006, rendering previous figures unreliable for planning. He revealed that 760,000 tablets had already been procured and stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in preparation for the exercise.
Kwarra assured that once President Tinubu proclaims the new census, the commission would engage development partners to secure necessary support.
With these renewed commitments and digital advancements, the upcoming census is expected to provide Nigeria with more precise demographic data, aiding national development, economic planning, and effective governance.
