The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a national population census is conducted before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
During a budget defense session with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, the Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population stressed the urgency of the exercise.
“We will not rest on our oars until a census is conducted before this administration ends,” said Senator Abdul Ningi, the committee chairman. He revealed plans to meet with President Tinubu and formally communicate the Senate’s call for the census to be prioritized in 2025.
Senator Olalere Oyewunmi and Senator Diket Plang echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for accurate population data to improve planning and policymaking. Senator Plang criticized the reliance on estimates, stating, “It’s disheartening that we are still working with estimates in this modern age. We need a definitive count by 2025.”
The NPC Chairman highlighted ongoing preparations for the census, noting the integration of biometric technology into the process. “The President prefers a biometric model for the headcount, moving away from the conventional approach,” Kwarra said, adding that a test run would precede the main exercise.
The Senate’s push underscores the importance of the census in addressing Nigeria’s demographic challenges and improving resource allocation and development planning.
