The Nigerian Senate has pledged to ensure that a national population census is conducted before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027. This commitment was reiterated during a budget defence session with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra.
Importance of the Census
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi, stressed the critical need for a national census. He vowed that the Senate would remain steadfast in its efforts to see the exercise completed.
“We will not rest on our oars until a census is conducted before this administration ends,” Ningi stated.
He further disclosed that plans are underway to engage President Bola Tinubu on the urgency of conducting the census in 2025.
Senate’s Advocacy for a 2025 Census
Ningi highlighted the Senate’s intention to formally communicate with the President through the Senate President, emphasizing the necessity of holding the census this year.
“We will soon meet with the President and formally write to him through the Senate President, highlighting the need for a census this year,” he added.
Supporting this stance, Senator Olalere Oyewunmi also emphasized the need to pressure the President to prioritize the census.
Concerns Over Population Estimates
Senator Diket Plang lamented Nigeria’s continued reliance on population estimates, describing it as a hindrance to effective planning.
“It’s disheartening that we are still working with estimates in this modern age. How can we plan without knowing the exact population?” Plang questioned.
He called for a definitive headcount, urging the government to ensure the census is conducted by 2025.
Integration of Biometric Technology
The Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, revealed that the census budget is still under review as the commission plans to incorporate biometric technology into the process.
“We are waiting to incorporate the biometric aspect into this year’s budget and conduct a test run before meeting with the President,” Kwarra explained.
He noted that President Tinubu supports a biometric approach, marking a shift from traditional methods of data collection.
“The President prefers a biometric model for the headcount, moving away from the conventional approach,” Kwarra added.
Bottom Line
The Senate has made it clear that conducting a national census is a top priority especially before the end of 2027, stressing its importance for national planning and development. With plans to adopt biometric technology, the initiative aims to ensure a more accurate and modernized headcount by 2025.
