Nigeria Moves Closer to a Fresh Census: President Tinubu Announces Committee Formation
On February 24, 2025, Nigeria took a significant step toward conducting its long-awaited National Population and Housing Census, which is expected to incorporate advanced biometric and digital elements. This will be the country's first census since 2006, marking nearly two decades since the last national population count.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, convened with officials from the National Population Commission (NPC) led by Chairman Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra at the State House, where he revealed plans to set up a committee dedicated to aligning the census budget with the government's current financial realities. The announcement comes after extensive discussions with key stakeholders involved in the country's data management and planning processes.
The Importance of an Accurate Census
In his remarks, President Tinubu emphasized the critical importance of a reliable national census. He highlighted that without accurate data, Nigeria would struggle with essential national planning, especially in sectors like employment, agriculture, and food security. According to President Tinubu, the lack of precise data leads to a myriad of problems, impeding effective decision-making across all levels of government.
"We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can't successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty. So many problems come up without accurate data," said President Tinubu.
The president also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the census produces dependable figures, which are essential for fostering development and improving the standard of living for Nigerians. He underscored that having robust data would help streamline social security initiatives and better allocate resources across the nation.
Focus on Biometric and Digital Components
During the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized that the census should incorporate biometric capturing as a central aspect of the process. He stressed the importance of using multiple identification features, including facial and voice recognition, to enhance the reliability and accuracy of the data collected.
"We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners," Tinubu advised. This approach signals a more efficient and transparent process in which all financial and logistical elements are carefully mapped out before external assistance is sought.
Collaborative Efforts for Successful Implementation
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, also weighed in on the discussions, emphasizing the importance of census data for future planning and resource distribution. He shared that President Tinubu had previously expressed his strong commitment to the census during a 2023 ministers' retreat.
"The census data would be central to future planning and resource distribution. At a retreat for the ministers in 2023, Mr. President, you reiterated your commitment to the census, so there is no doubt about your desire and commitment to have the census," Bagudu stated.
He also noted that funding the census would be one of the major challenges. In 2006, 40% of the census funding came from development partners, and Bagudu called for careful discussions to secure adequate funding for the new census.
Data Integration and Innovation
The discussions also focused on integrating data from various national agencies. Bagudu highlighted the ongoing efforts to link identity agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Ministry of Digital Economy, and others, ensuring seamless data management.
"We are having ecosystem meetings to link the identity agencies and geo-spatial data. The NPC, NBS, NIMC, Ministry of Digital Economy, passport agencies, social registers, voter registers, and even telecom data have been collaborating with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to optimise available data for government use," Bagudu explained.
A Step Toward Reliable Population Data
NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, shared his insights on the evolving census process, emphasizing the need for an updated census. According to Kwarra, the 2006 census data has become outdated and no longer serves as a reliable tool for planning, particularly for key sectors that directly impact the Nigerian population.
As part of the preparations, the NPC has already acquired 760,000 tablets, which are securely stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and plans to engage development partners once President Tinubu officially proclaims the new census.
Looking Ahead
With the formation of a committee to review and plan for the 2025 census, Nigeria is on track to ensure that the country’s demographic data is up-to-date and can support effective governance. By incorporating biometric and digital technologies, the Nigerian government aims to gather more accurate data to drive future development, better plan for the country’s needs, and improve the overall quality of life for its citizens.
As Nigeria moves closer to conducting the census, the involvement of various stakeholders and the commitment from President Tinubu to provide necessary resources and support demonstrate the country’s dedication to accurate and comprehensive national data collection for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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