The Nigerian Senate has declared its intention to ensure a national population census is conducted in 2025. This decision was made during a budget defense session held on Tuesday with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra.
Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population, noted that the lawmakers are determined to see the census completed before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Ningi mentioned that the Senate plans to meet with President Tinubu to discuss the critical need for a national census.
“We will soon engage the President on this matter and formally write to him through the Senate President, highlighting the need for a census this year,” Ningi stated during the session.
The lack of accurate population data has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria, and several lawmakers voiced their concerns. Senator Olalere Oyewunmi noted the importance of urging the President to prioritize the census, given its significance for national development.
Senator Diket Plang echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that relying on estimated population figures continues to hinder effective planning.
“It’s disheartening that we are still working with estimates in this modern age. How can we plan without knowing the exact population? It’s sad that 2024 passed without achieving 90 percent performance. According to him, we need to know our population, urging for a definitive count by 2025,” Plang said.
The Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, explained that the commission is in the process of finalizing the budget for the census, which will include a biometric component to improve accuracy.
“We are waiting to incorporate the biometric aspect into this year’s budget and conduct a test run before meeting with the President. The President prefers a biometric model for the headcount, moving away from the conventional approach,” Kwarra noted.
