NPC Ready to Roll Out Census, Pending Presidential Approval

We're prepared to conduct the census; NPC is awaiting Tinubu's approval.

NPC ready to conduct national census, awaiting presidential approval.

President Bola Tinubu's approval for a date is still pending, but the National Population Commission (NPC) has declared that it is prepared to conduct the National Population and Housing Census.

Mr. Isa Kwarra, the Chairman of the Commission, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja during a press conference to celebrate World Population Day 2024, which is observed on July 11 of each year.

“Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All” is the topic of this year's festival.

The United Nations advises that we carry out censuses every ten years, according to Kwarra.

“The 2020 round of census is ending this year. We will be making a hypothesis to make sure that we conduct the census before the 2020 round of census comes to an end.

“I want to believe that we will get it right, we are just waiting on the president to give us the date, and the commission is ever prepared to do it once we have a date declared by the President.

“The resources should be able to recruit extra hands to help us in conducting a very robust census that will provide inclusive data that is not just verifiable but will be acceptable by all.

“If we start now, we can achieve it; at least the 2020 round of census gives us an opportunity to extend up to April 2025.”

Speaking about the importance of conducting the census, Kwarra said it would enable the country to have the right information/evidence/data for measuring and predicting likely demographic shifts. 

However, he stated that the commission would prefer to carry out the exercise in November as that was what was planned earlier in the year.

“We need to hold a census that will deploy modern technology to generate timely, reliable and acceptable data required for addressing the different needs of the various population groups.

“Also, to implement interventions that will create opportunities for progress and remove barriers and inhibitions.”

According to Dr. Gifty Addico, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), conducting timely censuses is crucial for obtaining the baseline data necessary to monitor progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking through her representative, Mr. Koessan Kuawu, Deputy Country Representative, Dr. Addico emphasized the significance of censuses in providing valuable insights.

Dr. Addico further highlighted that census data would enable policymakers to develop targeted policies that cater to the diverse needs of Nigeria's population. By having accurate and reliable data, policymakers can create inclusive and effective policies that address the unique challenges and opportunities facing different segments of the population, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and progress.

“In Nigeria, our delay to generate timely inclusive data through the Population and Housing Census and other exercises, have masked the progress made, so much so that obsolete data is being used to assess our progress made towards the SDGs.

“Hence timely population and housing census represents a critical opportunity.

“As we prepare to enter a new 2030 round of population and housing census era, we must ensure that our data generation exercises are prioritised and conducted timely and regularly.

“We must be respectful of individual rights and accurately reflect the multifaceted experiences of all people.

“I therefore call on Nigeria to build a resilient and equitable future, by prioritising investment in comprehensive population data systems, ensuring safe and inclusive data collection, collaborating with marginalised communities, leveraging technology responsibly, and supporting the national census.”

Dr. Ejike Orji, Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), emphasized the crucial role of census data in guiding decision-making, likening a country without it to a ship without a rudder. He stressed that the absence of reliable data would leave policymakers navigating blindly, making it challenging to make informed decisions.

Dr. Orji also warned that failing to conduct the census would result in significant losses for Nigeria, given that over 70% of the required resources have already been committed. He highlighted the importance of completing the exercise to ensure that the invested resources yield valuable data, essential for informed decision-making and sustainable development.

“So that is why we are appealing that government should make sure this happens. If it doesn't happen, we're in trouble.”

Speaking on the day's subject, Mr. Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation, stated that Nigeria, a country with enormous potential and a diversified population, held special relevance.

“Inclusive data is the cornerstone of informed decision-making and policy development.

“It provides us with the insights needed to understand the realities faced by different segments of our population and empowers us to design targeted interventions to address inequalities and disparities.”

He went on to say that Nigeria's population, which was dynamic and diverse, offered both enormous prospects and serious challenges.

On the other hand, the country need inclusive and thorough statistics in order to fully utilize the demographic landscape. 

(NAN)