Buhari has forgotten that population census should have been conducted in 2016

Nigeria was supposed to conduct its next national population census in 2016, a year after President Muhammadu was sworn in as President. But we are in 2020 now, and no words on when this debt would be paid.

This according to a House Member Representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Honourable Idirissu Lawal, is an extremely embarrassing situation since population census is one of those things countries around the world takes more seriously.


He therefore, called on the Federal Government to take an urgent step towards the conduct of a verifiable population census in Nigeria, latest by next year.

He said, “It is extremely important to conduct a new national census, the last one conducted was in 2006. 14 years is too long a time for such exercise. And it does not augur well for us as a country to rely solely on projections by foreign bodies on her population figures for planning.



“Population census is an important national assignment because its figures are critical for national planning. The lack of accurate data on the population of Nigeria has been affecting national planning and development at all levels.

“The Federal Government should come up with a comprehensive timetable for the conduct of the census.

“Most countries around the world who know the importance of census carried out their census every ten – ten years. Without a census, and an accurate data of the number of people in a given country, no government can provide adequately for its citizens”.


Hon. Lawal who is the House Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, said he is hopeful that President Muhammadu Buhari will be interested in conducting a census. He also believes doing so, is the best way to set Nigeria back on the path of recovery; especially one dealt a bad blow by the coronavirus pandemic.