2023 census will be a major turnaround for Nigeria, says NPC

The National Population Commission (NPC) says the 2023 population census will be a major turn around for Nigeria economically and also change the “old narrative.”

The NPC Federal Commissioner, Yeye Seyi Aderinokun, disclosed this on Wednesday, during the commission’s stakeholders’ summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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Aderinokun, who represents Ogun state at the commission, spoke on the theme:”2023 census – Getting People Involved”. She declared that the country’s population is a critical factor in achieving sustainable development.

She further stressed that, without proper and accurate data of the Nigeria population, the country may continue to struggle for development.

Aderinokun insisted that the government cannot continue to base Nigeria’s population on assumption, hence the urgency of the exercise in 2023.

She said “the last population census conducted in this country was in 2006, another one was supposed to hold in 2016, ten years after but didn’t hold.

“Population is a critical Factor in nation building and this census will develop our country and change our underdevelopment. As you are aware, the National Population Commission convened a national stakeholders summit on 11th of August, 2022 at the State House conference in Abuja.

“Following the successful conduct of the national stakeholders summit, it has become imperative to hold the state level stakeholders summit which we are holding today.”

The Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the population census is critical to national development.

Abiodun said the exercise will help Nigeria in its economic and development planning, which will further enhance the proper allocation of resources.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, stressed that the outcome of the census would affect the state government in provision of amenities for residents in the state.

He said, “In order to ensure that the indices on population, economic planning, including but not limited to housing are realistic, no efforts should be spared in ensuring optimum conduct in our country.

“Population data is critical to development planning and any government desirous of achieving development strides, needs to know how many people require basic amenities such as power, water, schools, health facilities and education.”