With the last exercise having been co ducted in August 2006, the Federal Government plans to hold another national census in April 2023, shortly after the general elections slated for February and March 2023.
Ahead of this, the National Population Commission (NPC) is to conduct a pilot census this June after primary elections of the political parties.
The Director General of NPC, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, made the disclosure at the end of the Council of State meeting, Presided over by President Muhammedu Buhari, at the Aso Rock Vila on Thursday.
With an promise to deploy relevant updated technology, the NPC boss noted that the data currently being used are mere projections and obsolete.
Isa-Kwarra said: “It is very crucial because I have highlighted that the Census is a very important exercise for the nation. Because through census we generate the data that we use for policy making, for planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.
“If you are a private sector, you’re producing something, certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.
“So census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data we’ve been using are just projections, estimation and are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.“
Meanwhile, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, on his part disclosed that Buhari would meet security chiefs on Tuesday next week over worsening security situation, as recommended by by Council of State.
Earlier, the meeting observed a minute silence in honor of former head of Interim government Ernest Shonekan who died on January 11 2022.
This is the fourth time the President will preside over the meeting, with the first being held on October 21, 2015 and the second on September 7, 2016 and the third was held virtually in August 2020.
The Council of State is an organ of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy making matters.
Members of the council include: President Vice President, past presidents, Senate President, House of Reps Speaker Chief Justice of Nigeria, serving and past.
Others are Attorney General of the Federation, all State Governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Those in attendance at the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, and Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibarahim Gambari.
Former heads of state physically in attendance were Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan. Others attended virtually.
