The Federal Government (FG) has confirmed that the 3-day National Population and Housing Census exercise would start on Monday, May 3, and end on Wednesday, May 5, 2023, across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This was made known on Sunday by Dr. Garba Abari, the Director General (DG) of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) when he was featured as a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.
Abari, who also doubles as a member of the census’ Publicity and Advocacy Committee stated that the exercise is projected to capture every individual, household, and structure for the purpose of national planning and project execution, adding that the exercise would be transparent and credible.
According to him, the date of the census had to be shifted from the initial date of March 29 to the current date of May 3 as a result of the postponement of the 2023 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Abari said, “The most important thing is to make Nigerians aware that census is about them because they matter, so let them be counted because they count. It is all about them, about planning for development, security, and others.
“When you are actually able to get the correct information about all that we do, or how many we are, how many are male, female, how many are old, young, how many persons with disabilities, planning will be difficult.
“A reliable census provides an important ingredient that will help national planning. We need a holistic database that is scientific to guide different levels of government in the provision of services, infrastructure, and the way and manner they relate as government to the people.”
According to reports, Nigeria conducted its last census exercise 17 years ago in 2006.
