The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced its preparedness to conduct the 2024 Nigerian Population and Housing Census.
Speaking at a press conference marking the 2024 World Population Day, NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra revealed that the commission has proposed November 2024 for the census, pending approval from President Bola Tinubu.
Kwarra stated, “The commission is 70 per cent ready to conduct the census. The delay in having current population data will not prevent Nigeria from achieving the UN 2020 Round of Population & Housing Censuses.” He emphasized that once presidential approval is received, the commission will promptly initiate the process.
Highlighting the commission’s readiness, Kwarra noted, “A lot of money has been spent. Since it is a digital census, we have over 760,000 PDAs ready for use. This equipment has been bought for over a year now, and it is important we have the resources to kick-start the process to avoid losing these facilities due to battery degradation.”
The NPC has also developed digital maps for the census and other surveys. Completing the census will provide crucial data to track every citizen in the country, Kwarra added.
During the press briefing, the Statistician General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, emphasized the importance of census data for national development. “Census data is vital for addressing issues that contribute to poverty and for the overall development of the country,” Adeniran stated.
