
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has expressed concern over the delay in conducting Nigeria’s national population census, emphasizing that it would help establish the country’s numerical strength.
Abbas declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the National Population Commission (NPC) to carry out a biometric census.
The Speaker stated this in Abuja during a courtesy visit from the board and management of the NPC.
He also shared his willingness to meet with President Tinubu after consulting with the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the issue.
In response to the NPC Chairman, who announced that the President had approved the biometric census for 2025, Dr. Abbas stated, “It is unacceptable for a country as large as Nigeria to go 19 years without conducting a population census.”
He remarked that the census would dispel doubts among critics who believe the country’s population figures are exaggerated.
Earlier, NPC Chairman Alhaji Nasir Isa Kwarra briefed the Speaker on the plans for the census and the preparations made thus far.
The NPC Chairman requested the support of the House and the National Assembly, particularly regarding funding and necessary legislation.
He outlined some of the census preparations, which include acquiring technology, recruiting and training personnel, setting up a situation room, and engaging in advocacy, including visits to former presidents and ex-Heads of State.
The last time Nigeria conducted a national population census was in 2006. It was carried out by the National Population Commission (NPC) and remains the most recent official population count in the country.
The population of Nigeria was recorded as 140 million people. However, it faced criticisms over accuracy due to alleged manipulation of figures for political and resource allocation purposes.
Since then, several plans to conduct a new census have been postponed, with the most recent attempts in 2023 delayed due to factors like insecurity, political transitions, and funding issues.