- The Federal Government appropriated a total of N219.17 billion between 2021 and 2026 for Nigeria’s national population and housing census and related preparatory activities.
- Public expenditure records on GovSpend reveal that at least N79.08 billion was processed in payments during 2022 and 2023 for digital equipment, cloud infrastructure, field mapping, logistics, and publicity.
- Funding peaked in 2022 at N180.22 billion ahead of the planned 2023 digital census, but dropped sharply to N875.5 million in 2024 following the indefinite postponement by the previous administration.
- The prolonged delay leaves Nigeria dependent on population estimates derived from the 2006 census, despite calls from political leaders and stakeholders for a credible, technology-driven count.
An analysis of national budget documents and public transaction tracking platforms shows that the Federal Government appropriated approximately N219.17 billion for Nigeria’s National Population and Housing Census and its preparatory operations between 2021 and 2026.
The data highlights a significant commitment of public funds toward what was designed to be Nigeria’s first fully digital population census. Budget allocations to the National Population Commission (NPC) surged drastically from N4.61 billion in 2021 to N180.22 billion in 2022 as preparations reached their peak.
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However, following the indefinite postponement of the exercise in May 2023, annual census allocations plummeted to N875.5 million in 2024 before stabilizing at N1.76 billion in 2025 and N1.23 billion in 2026 to maintain basic institutional readiness.
According to transaction data extracted from the civic tech portal GovSpend, identifiable census-related payments amounted to N79.08 billion between 2022 and 2023.
These funds were utilized for critical infrastructure, including the procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Microsoft Azure cloud systems, digital mapping, logistics, and nationwide advocacy campaigns.
Clarifying historical spending, NPC officials previously noted that total preparations dating back to 2014 cover a broader timeframe than recent transactional extracts.
With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu currently reviewing the framework for a revised, cost-effective headcount, Nigeria continues to rely on baseline demographics established during the 2006 census, nearly two decades ago.
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