Seventeen months into President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the long-awaited National Population and Housing Census remains in limbo, sparking concerns about national planning and governance.
The delay follows former President Muhammadu Buhari’s indefinite postponement of the 2023 census.
Nigeria’s population has been estimated since the last census in 2006, which recorded 140 million people. This reliance on estimates has raised concerns about data accuracy for resource allocation and representation.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has made significant preparations, spending N200 billion and acquiring 760,000 digital devices. In July 2024, the NPC proposed November 2024 for the census but awaits presidential approval.
*Census Preparations*
– N200 billion spent on preparations
– 760,000 digital devices acquired
– NPC proposed November 2024 for the census
NPC Chairman Nasir Kwarra emphasized the commission’s readiness, stating, “We are still prepared. A lot of money has been spent. If you don’t use the equipment and the batteries go down, we risk losing many of these facilities.”
*Expert Reactions*
Experts warn that further delays could waste resources and impede national planning. Professor Jimoh Isah, a former Federal Commissioner at the NPC, urged President Tinubu to announce a date, citing the commission’s 99% readiness.
“The critical issue is that the government should come out and make a sound pronouncement on when the census will be held this year because, to the best of my knowledge, the NPC is 99 per cent ready,” Isah said.
Political analyst Busari Dauda criticized the delay as a sign of “unseriousness” on the government’s part.
As Nigeria awaits President Tinubu’s announcement, the stakes remain high for a timely and accurate census to inform national development and planning.
