President Bola Tinubu has granted approval for the continuation of plans for the national census in 2023. However, Tinubu is anticipated to announce a new date for the population and housing census. It should be noted that the original date for the census was indefinitely postponed in April of this year. The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, shared this information with State House Correspondents after his delegation briefed the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Kwarra mentioned that the visit provided the Commission with an opportunity to present its report to the President. Kwarra further stated that the President will carefully examine the report and make an informed decision regarding the nationwide implementation of the census. He also hinted that the Commission might need additional funding, as prolonged delays in conducting the census could lead to financial constraints.
“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”, he said.
