President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-powered committee to drive preparations for Nigeria’s long-awaited national population and housing census, setting a three-week deadline for the submission of an interim report.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the inauguration held Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, the President described the census as critical for national development, planning, and decision-making across sectors such as healthcare, education, security, and the economy.
Nigeria’s last census was conducted in 2006, nearly two decades ago, recording a population of 140,431,790—comprising 71,345,488 males and 69,086,302 females.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu emphasised the importance of leveraging technology to ensure credible, transparent, and verifiable results. He also called for collaboration among key government agencies and stakeholders to achieve a successful exercise.
“This census must be technology-driven,” the President stated. “You cannot budget effectively if you do not know how many we are. The enumeration process must be digital, incorporating biometrics to ensure accuracy and credibility.”
Underscoring the challenge of funding, President Tinubu urged the committee to explore both domestic and international funding options. “Work with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which must take the lead on this effort,” he said.
Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census, assured the President that the committee would deliver its interim report within the stipulated timeframe. He recalled Tinubu’s earlier call for ministers to be resourceful, even in tough economic conditions.
Bagudu praised the President’s economic reforms, citing improved foreign exchange stability and a positive growth trajectory, and said the committee would propose practical solutions, including funding strategies.
Also speaking, the Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, reiterated the importance of reliable demographic data, noting that a credible census is foundational to national planning and development.
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Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and Secretary of the committee, disclosed that the NPC had already begun preparatory work in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other key partners. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to a credible, digital, and inclusive enumeration process.
The eight-member committee also includes 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 Principal Secretary to the President; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff).
