NPC speaks on new date for 2023 national census

Patrick OdeyJune 3, 2023

1 minute read

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said it is waiting for the Federal Government to fix a new date for the 2023 National Census, which was postponed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NPC’s Federal Commissioner in Ebonyi, Mr. Darlington Okereke, said this at a one-day Breakfast Meeting for Media Executives on Friday in Abakaliki.

Okereke said the commission had carried out all the preparatory activities towards the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the country, including the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) and conduct of pre-tests and trial census among others.

He said the commission had also recruited and trained census field staff, procured and configured Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), established ICT infrastructures and logistics support, and conducted advocacy and publicity activities.

He said the commission’s focus was to ensure that all resources expended were safeguarded and maintained ahead of the census exercise.

He said this would avoid starting preparations all over again when a new date is fixed.

He said the commission had laid a solid foundation for future censuses.

“We also gathered to enlighten you on the next steps forward in the light of the postponement of the conduct by the former President,” he added.

The NPC is the agency responsible for collecting and publishing demographic data, population statistics, economic indicators, housing statistics, and other related information in Nigeria.

The NPC conducts a national census every 10 years. The last census was conducted in 2006. The 2023 census was scheduled to take place in February 2023 but was postponed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.