By Kabiru Abdulrauf.
In a major step toward organizing Nigeria’s long-overdue national census, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-powered Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census. The inauguration, held at the State House in Abuja and represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, signals a renewed commitment to data-driven governance.
The President has given the committee a tight three-week window to deliver an interim report, emphasizing that the census is not just a statistical exercise, but a cornerstone for national development.
“Nigeria cannot plan effectively if we don’t know how many we are,” Tinubu stated, highlighting the significance of reliable population data for policymaking in healthcare, education, security, and the economy.
This will be Nigeria’s first census since 2006, which recorded a population of over 140 million. The 2025 exercise, President Tinubu stressed, must be “technology-driven,” incorporating biometrics and digital tools to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Chaired by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, the committee includes top officials from key sectors such as finance, identity management, and revenue generation. Bagudu affirmed the committee’s readiness to deliver within the deadline and underscored the importance of innovative thinking in light of economic constraints.
The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, and the National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra—who also serves as committee secretary—echoed the need for credible data and collaboration across agencies.
As the NPC ramps up preparatory activities in partnership with other government bodies, Nigerians await a census that promises to reflect the nation’s demographic reality and serve as a foundation for future progress.
