Breaking: FG postpones 2023 population census

The Federal Government has postponed the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on a statement made available on Saturday morning.

The exercise was billed to start from May 3 -7 but will now be carried out at a later date.

Mr Mohammed said in the statement that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the postponement after a meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra and his team on Friday.

Not a few Nigerians have expressed worries over the seeming lack of preparedness and proper awareness for the exercise and called for a shift in date.

Mohammed said :”In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.

“The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation  of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses

“The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.”

In attendance at the meeting were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.