NPC Expresses Readiness For Census, Says Postponement Allowed For Better Preparation

The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced its readiness to conduct the 2023 population and housing census.

Clifford Zirra, NPC federal commissioner in Adamawa, said the commission is waiting for instruction from President Bola Tinubu to start the exercise.

In April, Lai Mohammed, former minister of information and culture, announced that the federal government has postponed the census.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, in Yola, Zirra said Tinubu is satisfied with the level of progress the commission has recorded in preparation for the census, adding that the exercise is critical to the future of Nigeria.

“It provides us with accurate and up-to-date data about our population, which is indispensable for effective planning and development,” he said.

“The information collected during the census will serve as the foundation for policy formulation, resource allocation, and the implementation of various social and economic programs.

“The commission welcomes the decision of the federal government on the postponement of the conduct of the census in order to give the new administration the opportunity to have input in the census process.”

He said the postponement has also given the commission the opportunity to perfect its processes and systems for the conduct of the first-ever digital census.

He said the commission has carried out all the necessary preparations such as the enumeration area demarcation, conduct of pre-tests and trial census, training of field staff, and establishment of ICT infrastructure across the country, among other activities.

Abubakar Hamma-Adama, director of NPC in the state, encouraged the media to continue to collaborate with the commission as the census exercise draws close.