2023 Census critical to Nigeria’s development” – Commissioner

The commissioner stated that the exercise will provide a working document for the new administration to respond to peculiar challenges affecting people residing in different parts of the country.

Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, Dr Abdulmalik Durunguwa has assured that the 2023 Census would address the most of the issues affecting the country.

Durunguwa, who is representing Kaduna State at the commission, disclosed this during a chat with members of the Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, most of the issues facing the country would be over once the exercise was fully conducted, adding that the exercise would show the government where the issues are.

He also added that conducting the census would provide needed data for government and its partners to plan how to respond to the people’s needs, as well as setting the country on its path to sustainable development.

“The data that is required is more about where you are residing and not your village or state because the essence of the data is to solve people problems wherever you are.

“The country needs to know the composition and the dynamics of its population and as such, people should be counted wherever they are.”

The commissioner also pleaded with Nigerians to stay where they are so as to ensure that everyone is counted, thus making the government aware of the people’s needs.

“Most of the population data currently in use in Nigeria is estimated. We need to know the actual number of poor among us, number of out of school children, poverty level and other indices.

“The last census was conducted in 2006 and children born that year are already 17 years. You can see the huge gap,” Durunguwa said.

The 2023 Census is set to commence once the new administration is inaugurated, which according to the commissioner, would be the best ever.