As part of preparations for the 2023 National Population and Housing Census in Nigeria, the National Population Commission in Nigeria, NPC, says it is “proposing a pilot census in June 2022”.
The Commission also disclosed that the first and second pre-census test conducted by the commission was used to assess the methodology for the census.
The Chairman of the Commission Mr. Isa Kwarra made this known at a five-day workshop held in Nasarawa State North-central Nigeria, to chart a legal framework for digital census prospects and impediments.
Kwarra explained that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census is “designed to produce user-friendly census data that is accurate, reliable and acceptable and that the Census is a national event that every citizen must in by presenting themselves to be counted.”
The NPC boss also said “the Commission is drawing institutional experience spanning two national censuses and a pool of tested professionals to give the nation a truly scientific census and guide for planning within the context of escalating humanitarian crises, raging epidemic, insecurity, and worsening human development situation.
He added that “Efforts has culminated in the development of a Census Strategy and Implementation Plan of action detailing a whole range of activities to be carried out in the pre-census, actual census, and post census stages”.
He further pointed that “The Commission has successfully demarcated 772 Local Government Areas out of the 774 in the country, remaining 2 Local Government Areas, namely, Abadam in Borno State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State and the delay in the demarcation of these 2 LGAs is due to security concerns.”
Mr. Kwarra added that “arrangements are underway to demarcate the two remaining LGAs before the census.”
He reiterated that “Census is a national event and is the responsibility of every citizen to participate by presenting themselves to be counted. The Commission will no doubt need the support of all stakeholders to deliver to the country credible and reliable data it can use for sustainable development planning.”
Emmanuel Ukoh
