Nigeria is ready to conduct its ever-digital population census, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra has said.
Kwarra said the census is scheduled to hold in May this year.
The NPC is “ready to give the country a first-ever digital census by May 2022,” Kwarra said on Monday, while on a courtesy visit to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El -Rufai.
Census figures are usually highly contested in Africa’s most populous country, where regional and tribal considerations influence key decisions of government. The country’s population is currently put at a little over 211 million, with a growth rate of 2.6 percent.
Nigeria’s last Population and Housing census was conducted in 2006, when the country’s population was put at about 140 million.
According to the population commission boss, technology will help Nigeria conduct a credible and acceptable population census.
“We have the map data in our system androids which, unlike the analogue era will make it very easy for a reliable and credible census,” Kwarra said.
According to the Chairman, the NPC has mobilized its resources in preparation for the forthcoming Population and Housing Census. He said the Commission has conducted Enumeration Area Demarcation exercise in 99″% across the state of the federation
“A total of 772LGAs have been successfully demarcated across the 36 States and Fact,” he said.
“The Demarcation of the last 2LGAs will be completed in the next one month. In Kaduna state only Birin Gwari LGA remains because of insecurity,” he said.