Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, has stated that the country should conduct a population and housing census in 2023 to support national development and planning.
Yesterday, Mohammed spoke at the inauguration of the population and housing national census publicity committee in Abuja. He said that despite the ten-year mandate, Nigeria hadn’t had a census in over 17 years.
Despite the many events that take place throughout the year, he emphasized the significance of the country conducting a census in 2023.
The minister mentioned: You are aware that the most recent population census in Nigeria was in 2006. Approximately 17 years ago. Every ten years, a national population count should be taken.
The implementation of the population and housing census in 2023 is a top priority for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It was born out of the desire to leave a lasting legacy of sustainable development planning based on evidence.
The most significant factor in our nation’s development is still our population. Because the people are both the agents and the beneficiaries of development, it must begin and end with meeting the people’s aspirations for higher living standards.
“The conduct of the population and housing census in 2023 is therefore to complement the giant steps taken by the government by laying a sustainable foundation for a planned and prosperous Nigeria,” the statement reads.
For his part, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission, stated that the commission would be relying on the expertise and structures of the newly established publicity committee to spread the word to every household and home in order to garner support for and participation in the population and housing census in 2023.
He stated, “Given this scenario, the information that, as they say, “rules the world” as such, targeted advocacy and ongoing publicity are without a doubt essential to the successful conduct of the census exercise.”