Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Isa Kwarra has introduced that the fee is ready to conduct the Nationwide Inhabitants and Housing Census however is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the official date.
Kwarra made this assertion throughout a media convention marking World Inhabitants Day 2024, noticed yearly on July 11. This yr’s theme is “Embracing the Energy of Inclusive Information In the direction of a Resilient and Equitable Future for All.”
He highlighted the UN’s suggestion for censuses each ten years, noting that the 2020 census spherical is nearing its finish.
The NPC boss emphasised the NPC’s readiness to proceed as quickly because the president units a date.
“We’re simply ready on the president to present us the date. The fee is ready to conduct a sturdy census to supply inclusive and verifiable knowledge acceptable to all,” Kwarra mentioned.
He added that the assets are in place to recruit further personnel.
The NPC goals to finish the census by April 2025, although Kwarra indicated a desire for November, as beforehand deliberate.
Kwarra underscored the significance of the census for gathering correct knowledge to foretell demographic shifts and inform coverage choices.
“We have to maintain a census that can deploy trendy expertise to generate well timed, dependable, and acceptable knowledge required for addressing the completely different wants of the assorted inhabitants teams,” he said.
UNFPA nation consultant Dr Gifty Addico, represented by deputy nation consultant Koessan Kuawu, mentioned well timed censuses are essential for monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Improvement Targets (SDGs) and formulating insurance policies to satisfy Nigeria’s numerous inhabitants wants.
“In Nigeria, delays in producing well timed, inclusive knowledge have masked progress, resulting in using out of date knowledge to evaluate our progress towards the SDGs. A well timed census represents a crucial alternative,” Addico mentioned.
She known as for prioritising complete inhabitants knowledge methods, secure and inclusive knowledge assortment, and accountable expertise use.
The chairman of the Affiliation of the Development of Household Planning (AAFP), Dr Ejike Orji, warned that failing to conduct the census would lead to important losses for Nigeria, as greater than 70 per cent of the assets wanted have already been dedicated.
The statistician-general of the federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, burdened the significance of inclusive knowledge for knowledgeable decision-making and coverage improvement.
He burdened that complete, inclusive knowledge is crucial to harness Nigeria’s numerous and vibrant demographic potential.
