Nearly 20 years after Nigeria’s last national census, billions of naira have been committed to an exercise that remains indefinitely postponed, with no fresh date announced for the long-awaited population and housing census.
Nigeria has allocated and spent approximately N219 billion between 2021 and 2026 on preparations for the country’s national population and housing census, despite the exercise remaining on hold.
The census, which was expected to be Nigeria’s first fully digital population and housing census, was initially scheduled for May 2023 but was postponed by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the exercise was due to commence.
The postponement was partly linked to the transition to a new administration, with the government saying the incoming administration should take charge of the exercise. However, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the census has remained suspended, with no new date announced for the national headcount.
Nearly two decades without a census
Nigeria has continued to rely largely on data from the 2006 national census, meaning the country has gone almost 20 years without an official nationwide population count.
The absence of up-to-date census data has raised concerns about effective planning, resource allocation and the provision of infrastructure and social services in Africa’s most populous country.
A modern census is expected to provide critical data for planning in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, transportation, employment and security.
N219bn committed to preparations
Financial records and budgetary allocations indicate that about N219 billion has been committed between 2021 and 2026 to activities connected with preparations for the census.
The funds have covered areas including digital mapping, preparatory exercises, technology and data infrastructure, institutional capacity and other activities aimed at ensuring the readiness of the National Population Commission (NPC).
However, the continued postponement has raised questions about the cost of maintaining the census infrastructure while the actual enumeration remains on hold.
Government estimates have previously suggested that completing the digital census, including enumeration and post-enumeration activities, could require as much as N869 billion, underscoring the enormous financial commitment involved in conducting the exercise nationwide.
Why has the census remained on hold?
Apart from the initial postponement during the 2023 transition of power, the census has faced funding constraints and broader economic pressures.
Nigeria’s fiscal challenges, including rising government expenditure and macroeconomic difficulties, have complicated efforts to mobilise the resources required for a nationwide digital enumeration.
Budgetary priorities after 2024 also increasingly focused on maintaining data infrastructure and administrative preparedness rather than proceeding with the physical enumeration of residents.
For now, the National Population and Housing Census remains one of Nigeria’s most anticipated but repeatedly delayed national exercises.
With the country still relying on population figures from 2006 and billions already committed to preparations, the absence of a new census date continues to leave questions about when Nigerians will finally receive an updated and authoritative count of the nation’s population.
