- The civic tech platform Tracka has raised an alarm over the expenditure of ₦129.5 billion on Nigeria’s national population census, which has remained stalled since 2023.
- Despite a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, the commission has reportedly failed to provide a breakdown of the funds.
- Advocacy groups warn that Nigeria’s reliance on 20-year-old data from the 2006 census is crippling development planning, healthcare delivery, and fair resource allocation.
The National Population Commission (NPC) is facing intense public scrutiny as Tracka, a prominent civic technology organization, demands a full accounting of ₦129.5 billion released for the suspended 2023 national census.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a detailed report and a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made public on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the group questioned why such a massive financial outlay has not resulted in updated demographic data for the country.
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Nigeria has not conducted a successful census since 2006, leaving a nearly two-decade gap in the nation’s vital statistics.
According to Tracka’s independent findings, the funds were reportedly disbursed between February 2022 and December 2023 for various high-cost items.
These include ₦118.38 billion for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and accessories, ₦2.47 billion for Hilux vehicles, ₦499.8 million for power banks, and ₦106.19 million for an e-recruitment portal.
Despite these significant payments to contractors and consultants, the census exercise was postponed indefinitely by the Federal Government, leaving Nigerians in the dark regarding the status of the equipment and the overall project.
The head of Tracka, Osiemi Joshua, emphasized that “a country cannot plan its future without knowing its people,” noting that the lack of accurate data leads to overcrowded classrooms and under-provided primary health centers.
The organization has now called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the ICPC, and the National Assembly to launch a full-scale investigation into the expenditure.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the NPC has yet to issue an official response to the allegations or provide the requested documentation regarding the ₦129.5 billion public funds.
