Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, has stated that the postponed national census would now be conducted in 2025.
The census exercise, scheduled for 2023, was postponed two times under administration of the former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kwarra announced the new date during the 2024 Anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development, ICPD, on Thursday, November 28 in Abuja.
According to him, the delay in conducting the census has affected Nigeria’s ability to allocate resources especially in rural and underserved areas.
“This gap in accurate population data poses challenges in tailoring reproductive health services and interventions to specific demographic groups, ultimately undermining progress toward reducing maternal mortality and improving access to family planning,” Kwarra stated.
Nigeria last conducted a population census in 2006, despite the United Nations’ recommendation for countries to hold one every 10 years.
He said: “The major setback Nigeria faces is the delay in conducting a population and housing census, which is fundamental for informed decision-making.”
