President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a National Population and Housing Census Committee, charging it with the responsibility of delivering an interim report within three weeks. The development signals renewed efforts by the Federal Government to conduct Nigeria’s long-awaited national census.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The inauguration ceremony was held at the State House in Abuja, with the President represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
During the event, Tinubu emphasised the critical importance of an accurate and technology-driven census in fostering national development and informed policy-making. He said reliable data is essential for effective planning across key sectors including healthcare, education, security, and economic growth.
“This census is a pivotal step in charting our national course. We must know how many we are, where we are, and how we live. Without this data, effective planning is impossible,” Tinubu stated.
He further urged the committee to explore a variety of funding options, both domestic and international, to ensure a successful execution of the census. The President specifically directed the committee to work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, highlighting its strategic role in integrating census data into the national budgetary framework.
“The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning must take charge of this process,” he said. “You cannot budget effectively if you do not know how many people you are budgeting for.”
Tinubu also highlighted the need for coordination among all relevant stakeholders, stressing the importance of transparency and accuracy in the conduct of the census, which is expected to be Nigeria’s first fully digital population count.
The move marks a significant step in addressing the country’s demographic data gap, with the last national census held in 2006. The proposed census has been postponed several times due to security challenges and funding constraints.
The committee’s work is expected to lay the groundwork for the eventual enumeration exercise, which observers believe could help reshape Nigeria’s planning and development strategies.
