Nigeria has begun preparations to launch a new population and housing census, an operation set to rely on digital tools for better data collection.
Thus, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up an eight-member committee tasked with examining the budgetary and logistical aspects and setting an optimal timeline for organizing the upcoming census, according to a statement from the Nigerian Population Commission.
The committee is expected to produce a report within three weeks to establish the dates for the census and the financing modalities for the operation, the statement added.
Cited in the statement, the Nigerian President emphasized the strategic importance of providing accurate demographic data for the development of relevant policies, the equitable distribution of resources, and informed decision-making in various sectors.
Recalling that the last census was conducted in 2006, nearly twenty years ago, he stressed the urgency of having up-to-date demographic data to address contemporary challenges related to food security, infrastructure, health, and education.
Tinubu also called for the use of technology and digital tools throughout the process to ensure credible and verifiable results, while ensuring fruitful collaboration among all relevant agencies and stakeholders.
This committee is chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and includes senior officials from Nigeria's public administration.
With the organization of this census, Africa’s most populous country is expected to update its databases and have reliable statistics to develop policies that can address major economic and social challenges.
