The initiative will modernize the country’s demographic data collection through digital and biometric methods. Nigeria’s last census occurred in 2006, leaving the country with outdated population statistics.
“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data,” Tinubu stated, noting that accurate census data is essential for national planning across sectors including employment and agriculture.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has acquired 760,000 tablets, stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to support the digital census. The project will require coordination between multiple government bodies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Ministry of Digital Economy.
To manage costs, Tinubu has established a review committee to match the census budget with available government resources. The administration plans to secure domestic funding before pursuing international support, changing from the 2006 approach when 40 percent of funding came from development partners.
Regular ecosystem meetings between identity agencies are helping coordinate existing data resources to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the population count.
Funding remains the primary challenge, which the government is addressing through budget review and strategic resource planning.
The addition of biometric technology marks a significant improvement over previous census methods and should provide more reliable population data for Nigeria’s estimated 200 million citizens.
Source: Punch
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February 25, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
