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HOW OUTDATED CENSUS DATA UNDERMINES NIGERIA’S DEVELOPMENT

Published

2 months ago

September 12, 2025

By Stanley Nwosu

The primary purpose of a population census is to provide evidence-based data for national planning and sustainable development.

However, when this data becomes outdated, less reliable, or poorly utilised, it hinders development and exacerbates underdevelopment.

Recognizing the importance of population census data to national development, the framers of Nigeria’s Constitution positioned it at the center of the political economy as a basis for determining which State gets what, be it allocation of national resources, delineation of electoral constituencies and apportionment of legislative seats. The goal is to ensure equitable distribution of national resources and fair political representation across the country.

However, despite the fact that population census figures determine the amount of federal allocation a state receives and the number of legislative seats it gets at the Federal House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly, the conduct of the census exercise in Nigeria has been irregular.

The United Nations recommended that a census should be conducted every five or ten-year interval, depending on the economic capacity of each country.

However, in Nigeria, it has been almost 20 years since the last exercise was conducted in 2006. This means that the 2006 Census data has become increasingly obsolete and unreliable for planning purposes, particularly in the face of Nigeria’s rapid population growth and demographic shifts.

Relying on outdated census data has created a faulty basis for national planning, resource allocation, and political representation, causing widespread socio-economic and political problems. For example, the population allocation principle for revenue sharing among states is still based on outdated census figures, which do not reflect the current population distribution across the states.

The implication is that currently, based on the population allocation principle, some more populated states receive less revenue than some less populated states, resulting in inequitable sharing of national wealth and uneven development.

Also, the existing constituencies and legislative seats in both federal and state constituencies in Nigeria do not accurately represent current population dynamics.

The implication is that the situation has created uneven constituencies and unequal representation in the country.

For instance, a federal constituency in a densely populated Lagos may have one million constituents, while one in a less populated state may have just 300,000.

This means that when constituency projects are evenly distributed among all House of Representatives members, the legislator from the Lagos federal constituency has 1 million constituents to cater for, with the same amount that the legislator from a less populated federal constituency received to cater for just 300,000 constituents.

This disparity leads to uneven empowerment and development across the country, undermining the constitutional aim of nearly equal population quotas in constituencies. This constituency imbalance and under-representation also extended to the State Houses of Assembly, affecting development at the state constituency level.

Current and accurate census data is essential for effective constituency delimitation, hence why the 1999 constitution mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revise and alter constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years or after a national census. This provision aligns with the UN recommendation for decennial censuses, ensuring that accurate population data informs the delimitation exercise.

The negative effects of outdated census data extend to other sectors of the economy. If the government lacks precise information about the population size and demographics, how can it effectively plan for its citizens or assess the impacts of its policies? Without current and reliable census data, it will be difficult to accurately determine the number of out-of-school children, unemployed citizens or vulnerable population in Nigeria.

This lack of clarity hampers the government’s ability to track the success of educational initiatives, employment programmes, or poverty alleviation efforts. We cannot continue to rely on estimates and foreign sources for planning.

Without accurate census data, policymakers cannot correctly identify which areas are most in need of investment. This leads to the misallocation of funds for essential infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and roads. Some areas may end up with vacant facilities while others remain critically underserved.

Past national development plans in Nigeria have underperformed partly due to the lack of reliable demographic data. Without a true understanding of the population’s size, distribution, and characteristics, policies cannot be effectively tailored to national needs.

The unreliability of census data directly undermines the distribution of social welfare packages and poverty alleviation programmes. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of reliable population data hampered efforts to distribute palliatives to the target population. The same story applies to other intervention programmes.

When a country relies on old or unreliable data, it fails to account for critical population changes, such as internal migration, urbanization, and rapid population growth. This leaves governments unable to provide services where they are most needed.

Furthermore, without accurate and current population census data, it will be difficult to determine the coverage of administrative data. Take, for example, the National Identification Number (NIN) and birth registration.

How can we ascertain the percentage coverage of Nigerians who have been enrolled or registered without knowing the actual total population figures? We must first ascertain the total population to identify those not accounted for; otherwise, efforts are akin to “grappling in the dark.”

There is no doubt that census data is crucial for planning, development and good governance as it provides valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the population that enables policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions and promote inclusive and sustainable development.

It is high time we conducted another census to obtain reliable, verifiable, and up-to-date data for informed planning and policymaking.

The upcoming Population and Housing Census, which will be a digital and biometric-based exercise, will certainly lay a solid foundation for evidence-based national planning and the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

—© Stanley Onyeka Nwosu, mnipr, is a Communication Strategist, Political Economist, and Development Expert. He writes from Abuja.

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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