By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a high-powered committee to oversee preparations for Nigeria’s forthcoming National Population and Housing Census.
The committee, which includes top government officials, is expected to submit an interim report within three weeks, the statement from the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga said.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, President Tinubu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, emphasized the importance of the census for national planning and development.
He noted that accurate data is essential for effective policy-making in healthcare, education, security, and economic growth.
“Nigeria cannot plan effectively without knowing how many we are,” Tinubu said. “The census must be technology-driven, incorporating biometrics and digital tools to ensure transparency, credibility, and verifiable results.”
The last population census in Nigeria was conducted in 2006, nearly 20 years ago, recording a population of over 140 million. Since then, the country has relied on estimates for planning.
The newly inaugurated committee will be chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who reaffirmed the commitment to meeting the President’s timeline. Bagudu said the committee would explore both domestic and international funding options to support the census, in line with President Tinubu’s call for innovation amid economic constraints.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Information Muhammed Idris underlined the importance of accurate data in national planning, while the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, confirmed that groundwork for the census has already begun in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Kwarra reiterated the NPC’s commitment to delivering a credible and technology-enabled census that will serve as a foundation for evidence-based governance.
Precise Post recalls that the eight-member Presidential Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and senior aides to the President.
