By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi 

Nigeria has taken a significant step towards conducting its long-awaited national population and housing census, as President Bola Tinubu announced plans to set up a high-level committee to align the exercise with the country’s current financial realities.

At a meeting on Monday with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC) at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu emphasised the importance of an accurate and biometric-driven census, stating that reliable data is critical for effective governance, economic planning, and national development.

“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,” Tinubu said.

The President stressed the need for biometric capturing to be central to the census process, integrating multiple identification features such as facial and voice recognition.

He also directed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) be included in the review process to enhance data harmonisation.

Highlighting the financial aspect, Tinubu noted that the government must first assess its own capacity to fund the census before seeking support from development partners.

He expressed dissatisfaction with past disruptions to census exercises, stating: “This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a definite path. I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?”

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to conducting the census, noting that funding remains a key challenge.

“At the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me what the problem was, and I told you it was simply an issue of lack of ability to fund the census,” Bagudu said.

He revealed that the NPC had indicated that in 2006, about 40% of the census funding came from development partners, suggesting that a similar approach might be required for the upcoming exercise.

Bagudu also highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate data from various identity agencies, including the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), NIMC, voter register, telecoms data, and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), to ensure maximum data optimisation for the census.

In his presentation, NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra reiterated the urgent need for a fresh census, stating that the 2006 figures were no longer relevant for national planning, especially in sectors that directly impact the population.

He disclosed that the commission had already procured 760,000 tablets, which are currently stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in preparation for the digital and biometric components of the exercise.

Kwarra assured the President that the NPC would engage with development partners to secure additional support once Tinubu officially proclaims the census.