Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, has emphasised the urgent need for a new national census to provide accurate population data that will guide Nigeria’s development planning.
Akpabio made the call during a meeting with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC) led by its Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who visited him to provide updates on preparations for the country’s next census.
Describing the current state of Nigeria’s population data as confusing and outdated, Akpabio noted that the last national headcount was conducted nearly two decades ago in 2006.
“It’s difficult to believe that a country as strategic as Nigeria still relies on figures from 2006. I don’t want to call it a national disgrace, but it’s certainly a national embarrassment,” he said.
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He highlighted the conflicting estimates of Nigeria’s population as a major issue. “Sometimes, you hear people say we are 250 million. Others say 270 million. Some even suggest over 300 million.
“Meanwhile, in other places, they reduce it to 220 million. This confusion needs to stop,” Akpabio said.
According to him, no country can make informed decisions about development without knowing the exact number of its citizens.
He queried, “Proper planning requires real data. How do you plan for schools, healthcare, or infrastructure when you don’t know how many people you’re planning for?
“Any country that doesn’t know its population is already failing in planning, and in turn, failing its future generations.”
He expressed the Senate’s willingness to back the commission, stating, “the National Assembly will stand with you. With the experienced team I see here, I’m confident you can deliver, especially once the President makes the official proclamation.”
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Nasir Isa Kwarra, theNPC Chairman, thanked the Senate President for the opportunity, stressing the importance of legislative backing in delivering a credible census.
“We are here to update you on our progress and seek your continued support. Without the National Assembly’s backing, we cannot succeed. Our goal is to conduct a census that provides accurate, actionable data for national planning and development,” he said.
Kwarra assured that the Commission is committed to conducting a thorough and credible population count that Nigerians can trust.
