Tinubu Gives Green Light for 2023 Census, to Announce New Date Soon

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJuly 6, 2023

2 minutes read

President Tinubu and NPC chair Nasir Kwarra

President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the continuation of the plans for the 2023 national census, which was postponed indefinitely in April this year due to financial constraints.

The President is expected to announce a new date for the national population and housing census soon, after studying the report submitted by the National Population Commission (NPC).

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Kwarra, who led a delegation to brief the President on the level of preparedness and the outcomes envisaged by the Commission at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the President expressed his support for the Commission and recognised the importance of data for national planning and development.

He said: “We briefed him fully on the level of our preparedness, the outcomes that we envisage and I’ll like to say that Mr President has graciously approved to support the Commission in the conduct of census and our preparatory activities, though we’re not stuck at all, but he has given us the courage and the impetus to upscale our preparation.

“So we’ll continue our preparations and we’ll hear from him eventually, the date that the census will take place because we’ve made a submission to him that he will study before getting back to us.

“But as for the assurance of support, he has given that to us and we thank him immensely for this, for also realising the importance of data for the purpose of national planning and development.”

Kwarra also hinted that the Commission may be forced to ask for more funding, as the delay in conducting the census may generate financial constraints. He said that the Commission had already secured some funds from international donors and partners, but it would need more resources from the federal government to carry out a credible and accurate census.

He said: “The longer it takes to conduct a census, definitely there will be some financial constraints. We have secured some funds from international donors and partners, but we still need more resources from the federal government to conduct a credible and accurate census.

“We are hopeful that with the President’s approval and support, we will be able to mobilise more funds and resources to conduct a successful census in 2023.”