Tag: 2023 census

Analysing the potential issues confronting Nigeria’s 2023 census

Population census to cost N227 billion more than the general elections budget…

At a time of serious fiscal challenges, Nigeria’s decision to spend N532.7 billion for the conduct of a population census in 2023 has remained a subject of controversy, with many questioning the need for a census in view of the widespread insecurity and the availability of alternative population information sources.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has flagged insecurity as a serious risk that was taking a toll on data collection for field surveys and can affect the quality and reliability of statistical information in the country.

However, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, has given approval for the conduct of the country’s first digital census in April 2023, barely a month before the end of his eight-year administration, a timing which analysts say is a miscalculation.

Defending the conduct of the exercise, President Buhari said the deployment of digital technology will ensure the census data is more accurate, just as the national census will help in the fight against insecurity.

“The country’s inability to conduct a population census in the last 16 years has created an information vacuum as the data from the last census conducted in 2006 has been rendered out of date for planning purposes.

“It has therefore become imperative for the nation to conduct another national census to produce a new set of demographic and socio-economic data that will provide the basis for national planning and sustainable development, the President said.

Ideally, a national census provides important information on a country’s population that is used in government planning, administrating and underpinning the national statistical system. Nigeria has a long history of census takings spanning over a century, as the first census was conducted in 1866.

The 2023 national census will be the first to be conducted in the last 16 years and the National Population Commission (NPC) announced it has successfully completed the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in 772 Local Government Areas (LGAs) out of the 774 LGAs in Nigeria as well as the 1st and 2nd Census Pretest in the selected Enumeration Areas in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Chairman of the NPC Nasir Isa Kwarra, said the methodology for the next census has been designed to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census but also inclusive and user-friendly census data. The NPC is also targeting to recruit about 1.5 million ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the exercise.

“I am confident that the Commission will deliver a credible and reliable census that will meet international standard and global acceptability,” said Kwarra.

Reacting to the issue of insecurity, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria Ulla Mueller, said that insecurity in Nigeria should not be the basis for opposition to the conduct of the Population and Housing Census in 2023.

Mueller noted that if a census could be conducted in Afghanistan during the war, it can also be replicated in Nigeria, promising that the Fund would deploy various kinds of assistance to ensure the 2023 census has a credible outcome with quality and transformational data that can drive Nigeria’s attainment of the drive Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“If we have data, we have an accountability framework for what it is we want to achieve. When we have data, we can hold governments and ourselves accountable to the commitment and pledges that we have made.

“Data also supports effective formulation of policies. It is the backbone of good governance. It is the backbone of good planning,” she said.

While Nigerians acknowledge the benefits of a population census, many query the amount involved which far exceeds the N305 billion budgeted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2023 general election.

“I agree that knowing how many we are and the age distribution and structure of the population is desirable, spending such a colossal sum of money on an exercise that will always be disputed should not be a priority at this time,” a public servant Bukky Adebisi told this newspaper.

Former Senator for Kaduna Central Shehu Sani, has also urged the Federal Government not to borrow or print money to fund next year’s census budget.

“Nigeria’s census budget will cost over half a trillion Naira. This means each of the 36 state and Abuja will consume over N12 Billion. I hope we will not borrow or print money to do this,” he said.

November 12, 2022
Champion advocacy for 2023 census – Lai Mohammed to media houses

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, called on media houses, especially Federal Government media to champion the advocacy for successful 2023 census.

He made the call at the opening of a three-day National Capacity Building Workshop on 2023 Population and Housing Census for state directors and management staff of National Orientation Agency (NOA) by National Population Commission (NPC) in Abuja.

Represented by Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), the minister, who described census as
“very important milestone in National Development”, urged Radio Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
and others to rise to the occasion.

He commended the National Population Commission (NPC) for the commitment toward conducting an accurate and reliable digital census come 2023.

The Chairman of NPC, Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, said that the workshop was a demonstration of the commission’s commitment to the census.

He added that “the conduct of this important workshop underscores the determination of the commission to effectively mobilise Nigerians,
not only for the 2023 Census but also other activities of the commission.”

Kwarra explained that the commission would leverage on the nationwide grassroots outreach of the NOA to communicate with
Nigerians.

He reiterated NPC’s need to collaborate with NOA in areas where the agency has comparative advantage over the commission, listing such
areas as community engagements, field sensitisation campaign, engagements with traditional institutions, Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Civil Society
Organisations, among others.

Prof. Uba Nnabue, the Deputy Chairman, Publicity and Advocacy Committee, called for increased publicity and advocacy aimed at sensitising
Nigerians on the importance of census.

Nnabue expressed the willingness of the commission to collaborate with relevant agencies and the media for a successful census.

Newsmen reports that following the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the next Population and
Housing Census to be conducted in 2023, the NPC has intensified preparations to give the nation the first digital census and guide
for development planning.

The commission has completed the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in local government areas of the country, as well
as the first and second Census Pretest in selected Enumeration Areas in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal
Capital Territory in preparation for the census.

The methodology for the next census has been designed to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census
but also inclusive and user-friendly census data.

The National Capacity Building Workshop is therefore aimed at educating the management and state directors of NOA
on the methodology and processes for the 2023 census.

The workshop is also to leverage on the nationwide and grassroots reach and structures of NOA in the publicity
campaign of the 2023 census.

October 19, 2022
2023 census ‘ll eliminate fraud, multiple counting — Commissioner

Dr Ipalibo Harry, a Federal Commissioner representing Rivers in the board of National Population Commission, said the digitisation of the planned 2023 census would eliminate fraud and multiple counting.

Harry, who is the Census Committee Chairman, said this while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

He stated that being the first digital census, every house in Nigeria and the visible inhabitants would be captured and counted.

According to him, the digitalisation of the exercise with available Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) map at their disposal, will ensure credibility of the exercise, and eliminate multiple counting that characterised previous exercises.

While calling on Nigerians to shun all manner of misconception and prejudices about the census, he said that this would be the first Housing and Population census in Nigeria.

“Other censuses in the past were only population counting but this one would be counting both houses and roads.

“And it is also the first digital census where every house in Nigeria is captured, the inhabitants visibly captured and counted.

“If you say you have 10 children, we will see those children who will in turn append their signatures and be counted,” he said.

The commissioner said that the 2023 census would be a paradigm shift from the old practice where people were counted manually.

Harry expressed confidence in the preparedness of the commission to deliver a credible and acceptable census that would be globally acceptable.

He emphasised the need for all Nigerians to be counted during the exercise in order to provide genuine data for national planning and security.

Harry described the 2023 census as an agenda setter for economic, security, political and national planning with provision for accurate data.

September 1, 2022
Obasanjo tasks NPC on accurate, credible 2023 census

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday tasked the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct accurate, credible and acceptable data, in the forthcoming 2023 census, saying that it would assist the country in planning and formulating policies.

Obasanjo made the call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Chairman of NPC who came alongside with the country representative from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria, and other officials of the commission at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

According to him, if a credible and accurate census is achieved by the NPC, it will help the nation in planning better and formulate policies that will aid the development of the country.

He, however, recalled the last census conducted in 2006 during his administration, to be first in history to be conducted without conflicts, acrimony and contention.

He stressed that Nigeria had failed to adequately use the results of census previously conducted in country.

“We are running away from making use of our census, the same way we are running from religion and ethnicity.
“The census should lead to real demarcation of constituencies which we have run away from since 2006

“Census figures that we do not use for planning, for real demarcation and all that is not serving a useful purpose; it is a waste of money; I believe we should get this right, so that we will be able to know where we are today.

I don’t know how long we will keep running away from census, and we keep deceiving and lying to ourselves, by running away from the truth we must face and deal with it,” he said.

Earlier, the NPC chairman, Mr Nasir Kwarra, in his remark, commended Obasanjo for conducting a successful free census in 2006 and for giving the commission the solid platform to continue.

Kwarra said the aim of the Commission’s visit to Ogun was to monitor the conduct of the trial census in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area as one of the six areas selected for full enumeration across the country.

He noted that the overall objective of the trial census was to assess the overall preparedness of the NPC to conduct a successful population and housing census.

He described the trial census as a dress rehearsal for the 2023 population enumeration.
The chairman, who had earlier paid a similar coutesy visit to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun and the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, expressed the commitment of the commission in delivering a credible, accurate and acceptable census, assuring that the exercise would be successful.

He, disclosed that 7,718 enumeration areas had been selected for the trial census to test run the suitability and readiness for the actual census in 2023, noting that six local government areas would be fully enumerated during the tria.

“The six local government areas that will be fully enumerated are Toungo Local Government Area, Adamawa State (North-East); Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State (North-West); Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State (North-Central).

“Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, “Ogun State (South-West); Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State (South-East) and Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State (South-South),” are the reat.

He, however, gave assurance that despite the insecurity challenges confronting the country, the commission would not relent in carrying out the activities effectively in providing the country an accurate database for planning, formation of policy and development.

July 26, 2022
2023 population census will be conducted electronically – NPC

In a news conference in Lokoja, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission in charge of Kogi State, Isah Habibat Jimoh, disclosed that the 2023 population census will be conducted electronically and not manually which would make it impossible for anyone to manipulate as was done in the past.

He said, “The era of manipulation is gone, where politicians and other interested groups manipulate the exercise thereby giving wrong results”.

He pointed out that the 2023 census will be different as the commission is going to conduct a digital census stating, “Once you are captured by their machine, it goes directly to the central server at the headquarters where it would be difficult if not impossible for the figures to be changed or tampered with”.

He said, “The Commission is determined to successfully conduct the trial Census in their quest to deliver a credible, reliable, acceptable and verifiable census to the nation.

To this end, he said that the Commission has introduced new technologies such as Census PAD and CSP to ensure that the upcoming trial census serves as a good rehearsal that will make the 2023 population and Housing Census credible, reliable and acceptable.

“To ensure that the trial Census does not lose focus in view of predetermined objectives and processes, monitoring and evaluation instruments have been developed to assess the extent to which objectives are being met or not and whether the processes are being adhered to or not,” he said.

He stressed that all loopholes in the previous census have been blocked by the Commission and as such the coming population and housing census will be different.

He said staff have been motivated very well by the Commission in order to avoid people, the community and even politicians, from corrupting them.

He promised that the commission will conduct a credible and transparent population and housing census in 2023.

July 10, 2022