‘We Will Not Rush’: FG Prioritises Accuracy Over Speed for Upcoming Census

ABUJA — The Federal Government has firmly ruled out a hasty conduct of the long-awaited National Population and Housing Census, declaring that it will prioritize “process, legality, and credibility” over speed to ensuring the final figures are internationally acceptable.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this position on Tuesday in Abuja while hosting the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, and his management team at the Radio House.

Idris emphasized that while the administration understands the urgency of updating Nigeria’s demographic data—last captured in 2006—it refuses to compromise on the quality of the exercise.

“If You Can’t Measure, You Can’t Plan”

Speaking during the visit, the Minister described accurate population data as the non-negotiable bedrock of national planning. He warned that conducting a flawed census merely to meet a timeline would be a disservice to the nation’s development goals.

“Data is key to whatever planning you intend to do. If you can’t measure, you can’t plan, and if you can’t plan, the results are predictable,” Idris told the NPC delegation. “Therefore, the census is not optional for us. But we will not rush it. We are prioritizing accuracy because a credible census is what Nigerians deserve.”

He assured the Commission that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently aligning all necessary requirements to ensure the exercise meets global standards before issuing the official proclamation for a date.

Mobilizing the Nation

The Minister pledged the full support of the government’s public information machinery to the Commission. He directed agencies such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to lead the charge in sensitizing Nigerians once the President announces a date.

“We stand ready to mobilize Nigerians. We will deploy our platforms to ensure every citizen understands why they must be counted,” Idris added.

NPC Confirms Readiness

In his remarks, the NPC Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, confirmed that the Commission remains operationally ready despite previous postponements. He revealed that the Commission has used the waiting period to refine its technology and logistics.

“We are not idle. Our systems, ICT infrastructure, and personnel are being continuously refined,” Yusuf stated. “We have moved beyond the analog era; this will be a fully digital census, and we are ensuring our geospatial data is flawless.”

Yusuf, who took over the leadership of the Commission recently following the tenure expiration of Nasir Isa Kwarra, noted that public trust is central to the success of the exercise. He called for a sustained partnership with the media to combat misinformation and build confidence in the process.

A Long Wait

Nigeria has not conducted a national census in two decades, relying instead on estimates that peg the population at over 220 million. The exercise, originally scheduled for 2023, was postponed by the previous administration to allow the incoming government to take ownership of the process.