Have you been wondering what the real population of Nigeria is? Is it less than 250 million, or more? You will find out sooner than you know because census is coming.
The presidency in Nigeria says the population and housing census will commence on May 3, 2023.
Garba Abari National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director-General. He says the census would commence on May 3 and end on May 5.
He told journalists in Abuja that the exercise would capture every person, household, and structure.
According to him, the census will be useful for national planning and project execution purposes.
The Postponement
Abari says the change in the initial date was due to the postponement of the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections.
The census and the 2023 elections are major national events with significant importance.
Abari said: “That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise.
“The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2, now to May 3 to 5.
“There are two things that informed the shift in date.
First, in the course of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.
“The gubernatorial election, as you are aware, had to be shifted by one week.
This had a telling effect on the date of commencement of the census.
“Just like election, the census is also a very long process, from the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading up till the very day of the actual house listing and numbering.
“These will then be followed by the actual capture of the population”.
Preparedness
On the level of preparedness, Abari assured Nigerians that the commission was ready to embark on the exercise.
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He said: “Most of the information that has gone out to the public about the census like the awareness creation, sensitisation, enlightenment, advocacy around the census have all been taking place,
“Perhaps, not on a scale that will make us feel comfortable to say every Nigerian is now census conscious, census aware, in spite of the very significant role that it has to play in our national life.
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“But, clearly, the exercise is absolutely important.
“It is for development, planning, security, infrastructure development, educational, health and other demographic considerations all encapsulating in one”.
