Nigeria’s Population Census Commences May 3 — Federal Government

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that the national population and housing census will commence on May 3, 2023. The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari, made the announcement in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

According to Abari, the census will run from May 3 to May 5, and will capture every person, household, and structure in Nigeria for national planning and project execution purposes.

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He explained that the change in the census date was due to the postponement of the gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections. The census and the 2023 elections are both major national events of significant importance.

Abari noted that the census is a long process that involves training, sub-trainings, and retraining leading up to the actual house listing and numbering, followed by the capture of the population. He assured the public that the commission is ready to embark on the exercise.

He also stressed the importance of the census for national development, planning, security, infrastructure development, educational, health, and other demographic considerations. He acknowledged that while awareness creation, sensitisation, enlightenment, and advocacy around the census have been taking place, there is still a need for more efforts to ensure that every Nigerian is census conscious and aware.

“The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2nd, now to May 3rd to 5th.

“There are two things that informed the shift in date. First, in the course of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.

“The gubernatorial election, as you are aware, had to be shifted by one week. This had a telling effect on the date of commencement of the census.

“Just like election, the census is also a very long process, from the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading up till the very day of the actual house listing and numbering. These will then be followed by the actual capture of the population.”

The census was initially scheduled to take place from March 29 to April 2, but the date had to be adjusted due to the shift in the gubernatorial election date. Abari explained that the planning by the National Population Commission had factored in the possibility of INEC tinkering with its electoral timetable, which led to the shift in the census date.

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Abari urged Nigerians to participate actively in the census exercise, as it is a crucial aspect of national development and planning. He also called on stakeholders to support the commission’s efforts to ensure a successful and accurate census.