Nigeria is preparing to hold a new Population and Housing Census, which will include digital and biometric features. The last time Nigeria conducted a census was in 2006, almost 19 years ago.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with officials from the National Population Commission (NPC) at the State House today, 24th February 2025. The meeting was led by the NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra. The President said he would set up a committee to review the census budget and align it with the country’s financial situation.
He also said that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) must be involved in the review.
“We must know who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food security. Many problems arise without proper data,” President Tinubu said.
The President said he is committed to ensuring that Nigeria gets accurate figures from the census. He explained that having reliable data would help in development planning and improve Nigerians’ lives.
The NPC Chairman and other members of the Commission gave the President updates on the census preparations.
President Tinubu also talked about how government programs, such as fertiliser distribution to farmers, could be improved if the government had better population data. He insisted that biometric capturing must be at the centre of the census. He said the process should include facial and voice recognition, not just fingerprints.
“We must plan our finances well before seeking help from development partners. We should first look at our resources before asking for external support. This stop-and-go approach to the census cannot work with me. We must have a clear plan. I will set up a committee to examine all issues and determine how we can fund this census before making a final decision,” the President said.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the census data would be important for future planning and fair distribution of resources.
“At a retreat for ministers in 2023, Mr President, you made it clear that you are committed to the census. There is no doubt about your desire to see it happen. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me what the problem was. I told you the main issue is funding,” Bagudu explained.
He also said that before today’s meeting, he had called the NPC Chairman to confirm the President’s commitment to the census. However, he said the NPC and other officials must agree on the minimum amount needed to start the process.
“The NPC told us that in 2006, development partners provided 40% of the funding for the census,” Bagudu added.
Bagudu said that the NPC has already gathered useful data from previous work.
“Mr President, we have been having meetings to bring together identity agencies. We are also working with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and other organisations. The goal is to see how much data we already have and how we can use it more effectively,” he said.
In his own presentation, the NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, reminded everyone that the last census was done in 2006. He said that after 19 years, the old data is no longer useful for planning, especially in important sectors that directly affect the population.
He revealed that the NPC had already bought 760,000 tablets, which are being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He assured the President that the NPC would reach out to development partners for support once President Tinubu officially announces the new census.
Nigeria’s new census will be a major step forward in gathering accurate population data. With proper planning, the government hopes to use the results for better decision-making in agriculture, employment, and social programs.