Just In: Tinubu Okays National Census, To Fix New Date

By Akeem Oduyoye

President Bola Tinubu has approved that plans for the 2023 national census be sustained, just as he is expected to fix a new date for the national population and housing census.

Recall that the initial date set for its conduct was postponed indefinitely in April this year. The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, made this disclosure to State House Correspondents after his delegation gave the President a full brief at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, 6 June, 2023.

Kwarra, who explained that the visit to the President afforded the Commission opportunity to submit its report to the President t, added that President is expected to study and come to an informed decision of when the exercise would be held nationwide.

The NPC boss added that the Commission may be forced to ask for more funding, pointing out that the longer the exercise is delayed, the more likely it generates financial constraints.

“We briefed him fully on the level of our preparedness, the outcomes that we envisage and I’ll like to say that Mr President has graciously approved to support the Commission in the conduct of census and our preparatory activities, though we’re not stuck at all, but he has given us the courage and the impetus to upscale our preparation.

“So we’ll continue our preparations and we’ll hear from him eventually, the date that the census will take place because we’ve made a submission to him that he will study before getting back to us.

“But as for the assurance of support, he has given that to us and we thank him immensely for this, for also realising the importance of data for the purpose of national planning and development”, Kwarra said.