The National Population Commission (NPC) has disclosed that Benue State in North-Central Nigeria had 3.7 million buildings as of 2022.
This data, which includes both residential and non-residential/institutional buildings, was gathered during the recent Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise conducted by the NPC across the country’s 774 local government areas in preparation for the upcoming National Population and Housing Census.
The revelation was made when the NPC Chairman, Mr. Nasir Kwarra, received the Statistician-General/CEO of the Benue State Bureau of Statistics (BSBS), Mr. Kumafan Dzaan, along with key representatives from the state’s geographic and digital infrastructure agencies for a strategic meeting at the NPC headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
During the meeting, Mr. Kwarra emphasised the importance of the EAD exercise, stating that it successfully captured the geo-coordinates of every building in Nigeria.
This, he said, demonstrates the NPC’s commitment to providing detailed, verifiable and actionable data for census purposes and development planning in the country.
The NPC chairman further stressed the significance of conducting the next national census, explaining that it will not only update the geospatial data but also gather comprehensive household and demographic information vital for effective policymaking and resource allocation.
“Sharing complete data with the BSBS is crucial, and we are ready to collaborate with interested agencies and individuals,” he stated.
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The Federal Commissioner for Benue State, in the NPC, Mrs. Patricia Iyanya Kupchi, called on the Benue State government to support and enhance collaboration with the NPC, especially at the state-level, to facilitate the provision of vital data for planning and development in the state.
Earlier, the Statistician-General of Benue State, Mr. Kumafan Dzaan, commended the NPC’s efforts in generating comprehensive geospatial data, noting that the data they sought for evidence-based planning in Benue is now readily available.
“The insights from this data will guide our future initiatives,” he remarked.
Mr. Dzaan noted that Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has requested housing data from the NPC to inform planning and policymaking in the state.
In a show of support, Mr. Gbande Terwasa, Managing Director of the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company, also commended the NPC’s achievements in digital data collection, stating, “The solution to our quest lies with the NPC.”
Professor Daniel Amine, Director-General of the Benue Geographic Information System (BENGIS), echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of the newly acquired information on the total number of buildings in Benue State, which he has sought since taking office.
The meeting concluded with Mrs. Nkechi Odeh, Director of Cartography, advocating for a broader collaboration that extends beyond housing data.
She underscored the potential for joint efforts to enhance data accuracy and staff capacity within state agencies.
The NPC’s comprehensive housing data emerges as a vital resource for evidence-based decision-making for national planning and development in the country.
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