The population and housing census is scheduled to take place in 2023, according to the National Population Commission (NPC).
Clifford Zirra, the federal commissioner for the NPC in Adamawa, reportedly stated that the panel is awaiting instructions from President Bola Tinubu before beginning the exercise.
In an earlier report from April, Lai Mohammed, the previous minister of information and culture, announced the federal government’s decision to postpone the census.
Zirra said Tinubu is pleased with the degree of advancement the commission has recorded in the lead-up to the census in a statement to journalists on Wednesday in Yola. She also stressed the importance of the exercise for the future of Nigeria.
“It provides us with accurate and up-to-date data about our population, which is indispensable for effective planning and development,” he said.
“The information collected during the census will serve as the foundation for policy formulation, resource allocation, and the implementation of various social and economic programs.
“The commission welcomes the decision of the federal government on the postponement of the conduct of the census in order to give the new administration the opportunity to have input in the census process.”
He said the postponement has also given the commission the opportunity to perfect its processes and systems for the conduct of the first-ever digital census.
He said the commission has carried out all the necessary preparations such as the enumeration area demarcation, conduct of pre-tests and trial census, training of field staff, and establishment of ICT infrastructure across the country, among other activities.
Abubakar Hamma-Adama, director of NPC in the state, encouraged the media to continue to collaborate with the commission as the census exercise draws close.
“We are grateful and thankful, also we want to solicit your continued support during the census whenever the date is fixed.
“Really, the census will be successful only if there is good publicity and enlightenment,” he added.
