News From MDA'STop Story

Nigeria needs N869bn to conduct April 2023  census — FG

293

Mr Clement Agba, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, said on Monday that the Federal Government requires about N869 billion ($1.88 billion) for the April 2023 census.

Disclosing this at a high level partnership engagement forum in Abuja, Agba said  the government has already spent the sum of N291.5 billion which is about 46 per cent of the required funds.

“So far, the government has spent N291.5 billion which is $632 million, this is about 46 percent of the requirement for the census.

“I know this time around we are not just doing only the population census, we are also doing housing census.

“The total requirements for this census, including the post-census activities, is N869 billion, this is about 1.88 billion US dollars.

“When you hear the numbers, they really look very huge. Censuses all over the world, the average is between four to six dollars.

“However, in the United States, they spend $16 per person. In Botswana, they spend about $10 per person. So Nigeria’s $6 per person, you’ll agree with me, is very reasonable.

“So far, the government has spent 291.5 billion naira which is $632 million. This is about 46 percent of the requirement for the census. I know this time around we’re not just doing only the population census, we’re also doing a housing census,” the minister said.

“So the additional requirements for the critical items to ensure the census is done is 327.2 billion naira. This is about 709.9 million US dollars.”

According to Agba, this will be Nigeria first census in 17 years.

On her part, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said accurate census would help decision-making and provide accurate data for different sectors and also for investment.

She said: “As you may be aware, this month, the month of March marks exactly 17 years since the last national census was conducted in Nigeria, in 2006.

“By United Nations standards, population and housing censuses are to be conducted every 10 years.

“The set period allows the government to correctly capture changes in the population, the age structure, and the movement of the population for alignment of public policy, and also for investment decisions and making laws.

“Almost two decades on, it has become imperative and urgent for Nigeria to conduct another census as clearly spelt out in our national development plan of 2021 to 2025.”

Persecondnews recalls that before independence, the first census was conducted in Nigeria in 1866 and this was followed by census of 1871,1881,1891,1901,1911,1921,1931,1941 and 1952/1953.

However, the previous census did not cover the whole nation, the 1952/53 census was regarded as the first planned and modern census in Nigeria.

The first census after independence was conducted in 1962 which covered the whole country and was given adequate publicity, but the results was allegedly shrouded with regional bias, favoritism and politicization.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just In: Delta military killings: DHQ declares Prof. Arthur, Amagben, six others wanted

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight people wanted over the recent killing...

Just in: Soneye, NNPC Ltd.’s spokesman, wins NIPR’s Distinguished Spokesperson Award

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company...

Pres. Tinubu pays last respect to 17 soldiers murdered in Delta State

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended scholarships to the children of the...

Just in: Bodies of 17 slain gallant soldiers arrive at Abuja military cemetery for burial

The bodies of the 17 military personnel slain recently at Okuama, Delta...

Kidnappers ‘ll be treated as terrorists, they are cowards going after soft targets – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called for treating those involved in kidnapping as...

Just In: Again, CBN increases interest rate to 24.75 percent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)...

U.S. bridge collapses after cargo ship collision, casualties feared

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed...

Ease of doing business: NPA MD begins new week working on TinCan Port access road

As part of efforts aimed at consolidating the gains recorded in the...

Just in: How detained Binance Executive Anjarwalla outwits security officials, bolts from custody in Abuja

One of the two Binance executives detained in Abuja for alleged tax...

Breaking: FG files tax evasion charges against Binance

The Federal Government has slammed a four-count charge against Binance, a prominent...

Just in: After 17 days in kidnappers’ den, 287 Kaduna primary school children released

After 17 days in captivity, the 287 Kuriga school children, who were...

In Delta again, six cops shot fatally, six more missing

Barely a week after 17 soldiers including four senior officers were brutally...

Moscow’s terrorist attack: Death toll rises to 115

The Russian investigative committee said at least 115 people have died after...

Water scarcity can fuel conflicts around the world, UN warns

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has warned that...

Insecurity: 16 Nigerian governors endorse state police, constitution review in memos to FG

Amid rising insecurity in the country, the call for state police has...

Transparency, Research, Innovation Driving NNPC Ltd.’s Transformation – EVP Gas, Power, & New Energy

The Executive Vice President, Gas, Power, and New Energy of the Nigerian...

Cost of governance: Tinubu goes tough, slams no-foreign-travel ban on ministers, others for three months

With effect from April 1, 2024, ministers, heads of agencies, and other...

CJN to receive N5.39m monthly, other justices N4.21m as Reps pass judicial officers’ salaries bill

Following the approval of an upward review of the salaries, allowances, and...

FG identifies 15 BDCs, other funders of terrorism, plans sanctions 

The Federal Government says it has identified 15 organizations and persons who...

Subsidy removal: FG, 36 states, 779 LGs shared jumbo N10.14trn in 2023, says NEITI

The three tiers of government – Federal, state, and local governments –...