Population Commission assures Nigerians of preparedness to conduct census

The National Population Commission, NPC, has assured Nigerians that the Commission is “Prepared and have done everything that needs to be done to deliver this census starting from the enumeration/demarcation, first and second pre-test and the trial census. So the issue of our preparedness is out of it.”

The NPC Director of Public Affairs, Isiaka Yahaya made the statement at a media briefing in Abuja Nigeria’s capital

He explained that the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was scheduled for the 3rd of May this year, was to create adequate time and proper planning for the conduct of the census adding that census is an event that needs enough planning that follows due process.

Yahaya, therefore, urged Nigerians to dismiss misconceptions that the Population and Housing Census was postponed due to a lack of funding and preparation by the NPC.

According to him, “The census was not postponed but was rescheduled, because preparations for the census have begun already”.

“Some are having the misconception that the census was postponed due to the Commission’s lack of preparation.”

The Director noted that “The responsibility for the funding of the census is that of the federal government of Nigeria and have lived up to expectations in financing all the preparations.

“The federal government has the power to decide whether the census will take place or not, this is a massive exercise and the decision cannot be only for the Commission to make.”

The federal government in its discretion must have felt to carry out the census after the inauguration of the new administration and after nerves have been calmed.”

Yahaya noted that the nation was not losing anything by postponing the census but gained a lot by having extra time to continue preparations to have effective data that will aid planning.

“The kind of preparations we have made for the census are so effective to the extent that if we don’t conduct the census now, those infrastructures and facilities we have put in place, will make it successful. The nation is not losing anything substantial from the census postponement.”

PIAK