Produce credible, reliable census data for Nigeria, Tinubu urges National Population Commission

President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Population Commission (NPC) to be prudent in the discharge of their assignment and work towards producing credible and reliable census data for the country.

Receiving a briefing from NPC Chairman, Mr Nasir Isa Kwarra, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu, expressed unwavering support for the Commission to conduct an accurate Population and Housing Census in the country.

He said it was disappointing that Nigeria has not conducted another population and housing census since 2006.

On the delay in conducting census, the president advised the commission to see the delay as an opportunity to cash in on the advantages of the current electronic and digital age.

”It is disappointing that up until now we have not been able to conduct another enumeration of our people. I hope that this delay will be converted to a great opportunity in this electronic and digital age.

”The challenge is yours and I hope that during the demarcation you did, you would have noticed the migration of people to urban centers because of the extreme poverty and unemployment.

”Digitalizing the process will make your job easier and I don’t see why we don’t, by now, have a reliable database in Nigeria to identify ourselves and ascertain our numbers for planning purposes and in time of disaster.

”I have listened to you and we will support you. Accuracy and integrity of your data is very important to Nigerians and for our national economic development programmes.

”We will support you but you have to be prudent and be determined to make a name for yourself. Goodluck,” Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Kwarra recalled that the commission was ready to conduct the final training for the census before the transition programme for the new government took over, leaving it with little or no time for the exercise.

He also highlighted funding challenges as some of the reasons necessitating the postponement of the exercise.

The NPC chairman said the commission had demarcated the entire country, adding that only one or the two places were left and that this would be done soon.