By Joel Ajayi

Over the years, it has been a herculean task for the past and present governments to plan, and fend for the need of the nation as a result of no credible census.

It’s obvious that the inability of the country to conduct a census in 16 years had created an information vacuum for National planning that can bring desired growth and development to any nation.

Without any accurate, acceptable census data, anything a country is doing is just to make up. If Nigeria doesn’t get data accurately, there are no doubt planners, government will be misled in decision-making. 

However, the need to provide the nation with accurate and reliable demographic data for policy formulation and planning for sustainable development cannot be overemphasized. 

Honestly, no planning, no progress, and no meaningful acceleration can see the light of the day without credible data.

If properly conducted, and acceptable to the populace census importance is endless and ranges from Knowing the size of the population; Determining the number of taxable adults; Forecasting possible economic needs; Determining the number of unemployed citizens, and the standard of living of the citizens in the country.

No doubt, an accurate census reveals the level of manpower; estimating the number of migrants and immigrants. Determining the population density. Providing social amenities as well as assisting the government and international agencies in helping the country.

Knowing Nigeria’s population and using the data to plan for the people and future generations is a collective duty of any nation that is serious about growth and development.

As the 2023 census and housing are around the corner, Commission is saddled with the responsibility of conducting an effective, accurate, and acceptable census National Population Commission NPC has resolved to conduct the first fully digital census that will give the nation credible, reliable, and trustworthy data which will serve as the basis for driving government planning, policy-making, equity, security, budget allocations, and development agenda.  

The population is a critical factor in a nation’s efforts toward achieving sustainable development. The people are both the agents and beneficiaries of the development process. Knowledge of the national population in terms of size, distribution, and socioeconomic characteristics is required for planning purposes. This, therefore, makes the conduct of the census an essential governance activity.

Without an iota of doubt, several efforts have been put in place by the government and the commission responsibility of census that need to be commended by all Nigerians.

Amongst those efforts includes total and successful enumeration and demarcation of 772 LGAs across the 36 States and FCT, launched of Census Situation Room, in line with its commitment to conducting a digital census in 2023.

Also, the trial census, also known as the “census dress rehearsal”, the pre-census activities to evaluate all aspects of the census operation before the main census on a limited scale has been successfully conducted.

The Trial Census covered a total of 7,681 Enumeration Areas (EAs) in the 36 States and the FCT. Six LGAs were selected from the six selected States in the six geo-political zones of the country for full population enumeration while forty-five EAs in nine LGAs cutting across three senatorial districts were selected from each of the thirty States and the FCT for enumeration.

It doesn’t end there, the Commission has gone ahead to inaugurate the Census Dashboard and Mobile Device Management Location, a monitoring instrument to enhance the quality of data being collected during the census across the country.

Training of personnel is not left out; a huge resource has been committed to training and retraining all personnel that will be part of the success story of the 2023 census.

Also, a whole lot of advocacies and awareness visit to the state’s Governor, Traditional rulers as well as needed agencies has been put in place to ensure the census takes place after years of obliviousness.

In view of the pivotal role of an accurate database for developmental planning programs and in line with its mandate of generating demographic data for this purpose, the NPC has over the years invested considerable time and resources in planning for the census by drawing from its rich institutional experience spanning the last two national censuses to give the nation a truly scientific census and guide for planning within the context of global economic challenges, insecurity, and human development situation

Speaking during the National Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population And Housing Census a few days ago in Abuja, President Muhamadu Buhari revealed that, the goal of the summit is to strengthen collaboration and solicit cooperation and support of key stakeholders for the successful conduct of the 2023 Census.

“The country’s inability to conduct a population census in the last 16 years has created an information vacuum as the data from the last Census conducted in 2006 has been rendered less useful for planning purposes.  It has therefore become imperative for the nation to conduct another national census to produce a new set of demographic and socio-economic data that will provide the basis for national planning and sustainable development.

“With a projected population of 216,783,381, Nigeria is the sixth most populous country in the world and the most populous country on the African continent. Due to the rapidly growing nature of the population and large proportion of the youthful population, Nigeria is also projected to be the third most populous country in the World by the year 2050 after India and China. 

“However, despite Nigeria’s high-ranking position on the global demographic map, its population censuses have been conducted irregularly and at intervals, longer than the United Nations recommended 10 years. This irregular and long interval of census taking in Nigeria has denied the nation the huge benefits of comprehensive baseline data for evidence-based decision-making. 

“There is a need to ensure that further implementation of these programs will be driven by the 2023 Census data that will improve the implementation of programs targeting vulnerable populations and ensuring no one is left behind.

“The nation requires a new data set to drive the implementation of the recently launched revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development and other government policies. The 2023 Census data is also needed to tackle the security challenges bedeviling the country as it will give an overview of the population, where they are, and who they are.

“Ordinarily, conducting a population census is a national event that is the ultimate responsibility of every national government. Census taking cannot be left to the NPC alone.

He, however, solicited the support of all critical stakeholders including the State Governments, Local Government Councils, Traditional and Religious Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Private Sectors, media, Development Partners, Donor Agencies, and the general populace for the successful conduct of the 2023 Census.

“The forthcoming Nigerian Population and Housing census must be seen as a defining national and global agenda worthy of support by all stakeholders.”

While given the National Assembly backing, Senate President Ahmed Lawan expressed that the 9th Assembly is pleased to be part of this laudable initiative which seeks to mobilize and galvanize the support of critical stakeholders for the successful conduct of the 2023 census to generate credible and reliable data for national planning for sustainable development.

He equally reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to the welfare of Nigerians through the enactment of people-oriented laws and developing an action plan to work in synergy with the Executive to facilitate the smooth conduct of the 2023 census project to generate evidence-based data that will aid in planning for the delivery of the dividends of democracy to our country people.  

Lawan said: “You will all agree with me that planning without credible data is akin to motion without progress because no meaningful result will be achieved. 

“The census will be coming 17 years after the last exercise was conducted in 2006. This is yet another milestone by this administration worthy of commendation.”

 Speaking about the importance of the summit, Executive Chairman of NPC Nasir Isa Kwarra, revealed that, the Stakeholders Summit was convened to proactively engage the Nigerian people and get some positive feedback and invaluable cooperation and support so that together we can ensure the successful conduct of a credible and acceptable census next year.

“The specific objectives of this summit are: To create public awareness on the conduct of the 2023 Census including its imperatives, methodology, and timelines;

To promote robust and informed national conversation on the processes and procedures for the 2023 Census and solicit the cooperation and support of key stakeholders for the 2023 Census.

Truly speaking, if Nigeria must get it right and plan with facts, it must get it right plan with facts, it must strive to conduct credible and widely acceptable censuses in the future.

However, for a successful census, there is a need to mobilize national and international support for Nigerian Census.