*FG must deliver credible, acceptable census- Elumelu
By Hassan Zaggi
The 2023 population and housing census has a funding gap of N327.2b which is equivalent to $709.9m.
The federal government has so far committed N291.5 billion ($632m) to the Census. This is just 46% of total funding for the Census.
The total amount required to enable the census to hold including post Census activities is said to be N869 billion ($1.88b).
On the other hand, Census requirement is N626b ($1.36b) which is about $6 per capita, just slightly above the threshold of up to $5 per capita. Post-Census -up to 2025, require – N243b ($527m).
The Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, disclosed this at the high level partner engagement to galvanise support for the 2023 population and housing census, in Abuja, Monday.
The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) is the key partner in the effort to ensure that 2023 population and housing census hold.
The Minster disclosed that funds were appropriated for the Census in 2021/2022, noting that the Census was initially planned for 2022, but was moved to 2023, after the elections.
He, however, disclosed that some key activities have been completed and processes set up towards the 2023 population and housing Census.
Some of them, he said, include demarcation of 773 Local Government Areas into enumeration areas for the Census. Only Abadam LGA is yet to be demarcated. A hybrid enumeration strategy has been use to demarcate the LGA; conduct of First & Second Census Pretests, as well as Trial Census; mapping of special populations and compilation of Historical Events Calendar to aid accurate collection of age data during the Census and set up of a robust Data Quality and Monitoring & Evaluation structure for the Census.
Other activities that have been conclude, he said, are the development of e-Recruitment system to ensure transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in the recruitment process; set up of a Census Call Centre and Situation Room; conduct of the Trial Post Enumeration Survey; convening of a Stakeholder’s Conference at the National and State levels and a Donor’s Breakfast Meeting in collaboration with UNFPA and development of a comprehensive Publicity and Advocacy Strategy.
Other are the training of more than 60,000 facilitators at National, Zonal levels and State level; training of more than 10,000 Specialized Workforce, Centre Managers and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers and inauguration of Census Security & Logistics, and Census Publicity Committee at the National level. Inauguration at State and LGA levels ongoing.
Speaking, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, assured that the Federal Government will provide adequate security in all parts of the country to ensure the activity is hitch-free.
According to him, just like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did during the presidential election, it was able to conduct elections despite the security challenges.
“During the census, we are bringing together all the security agencies including the military, Air force, Navy, the police and other paramilitary agencies.
“Right from the time we commenced the enumeration area demarcation, they gave full coverage in all parts of the country.
“Except for Abadam local government area in Borno State, we had made a move to go in and somehow they got information, they thought it was the security agencies that were going in there, they started attacking people, luckily our people have not reached there, we decided to stay back. We could not do physical enumeration demarcation in Abadam, so we have to deployed technology.
“In addition to Abadam, there are a few local government areas like in Birnin Gwari, we could not do the entire local government, so we are using the hyhrid technology there as well as some few local governments in Zamfara state.
“This hybrid technology is as good as the physical process. We have physical map of Abadam.
We are using hybrid technology for areas that are hard to reach.”
The applauded the donors, especially, the UNFP for joining hands with the Federal Government in realizing the dream of providing the needed demographic data that would ensure rapid development of the country.
On his part, the Chairman of Elumelu Foundation, Chief Tony Elumelu, charge the private sector to provide the needed support to the federal government to ensure the success of the population and Housing Census which, according to him, will ensure rapid development of the country.
He insisted that the task before the NPC is to deliver a census that is acceptable to all.
“Census is very important. It will enable us to know our numbers, our demography and our profile.
“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with an estimated population of over 200 million.
“The last time census was done in Nigeria was in 2006. In that year, we recorded a population of 140 million people.
“It is projected that this our 200 million population could grow to over 400 million in year 2050. This could make Nigeria the third most populous country in the world.
“For me, this task is critical and very important for our country’s future. If we don’t know out population, we cannot properly plan for the future and we cant talk about our society’s growth. Therefore, credible demographic data is of profound importance for the public and private sector alike.
“As a private sector player with investment in key sectors of the economy and with the work we do at El;umelu Foundation in empowering young entreprenuers and building their entreprenuers capacity in our continent, I understand first hand the value of available, accessible, credible and accurate data to make informed decisions and in driving development and creating opportunities.
“The upcoming census is very key in our nation’s development as it provides opportunity to collect accurate and reliable data on our country; population and housing which will serve as tool for policy makers, private sector and civil society organisatrions.
“The census will affect how we allocate resources and so many other important issues. It is important that it is credible.
“Nigeria’s population estimates and demographic profile are unclear and projections which are debatable.”
While lamenting that population figures in Nigeria have been politicized, the business mogul said: “Population figures have been used for revenue distribution, office allotments, legislative representation and power and even elections. The stakes are therefore high for different interest groups.
“We, therefore, need to act for our nation as a whole and our next generation by ensuring we get credible outcome.
“The challenge before the National Population Commission, therefore, is to conduct, the census that meets the public acceptable criteria.
“It must therefore, be credible, transparent, viable, accessible and universal coverage. A credible exercise and outcome should be a source of pride and a demonstration of our capacity as a country.
“The government, therefore, faces a herculean task of conducting a census in a time frame that may be consider very tight given the proximity of the census and our current political climate.”
The UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Ulla Mueller, commended the effort of the federal government to hold the population and housing census despite daunting challenges.
She reiterated that census is necessary for the development of any society, according to her, with accurate data, planning will be difficult
She explained that the need for credible census cannot be over emphesised, stressed that, without accurate data, decisions are made in the dark without accuracy.
The high level engagement was highly attended by stakeholders including captains of industry, bank executives, heads of UN agencies and many others.
