FG confirms May 3 for commencement of Census

The Federal Government has confirmed that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census will begin on May 3.

Dr Garba Abari, a member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, verified this on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated that the three-day drill would take place across the country from May 3 to May 5.

Abari, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), emphasized that the census would record every individual, household, and structure for the purposes of national planning and project execution.

"That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise," he said.

"The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2nd, now to May 3rd to 5th.

"There are two things that informed the shift in date. First, in the course of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.

"The gubernatorial election, as you are aware, had to be shifted by one week. This had a telling effect on the date of commencement of the census.

"Just like election, the Census is also a very long process, from the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading uptill the very day of the actual house listing and numbering.

"These will then be followed by the actual capture of the population.

"Most of the information that have gone out to the public about the census like the awareness creation, sensitisation, enlightenment, advocacy around the census have all been taking place.

"Perhaps, not on a scale that will make us feel comfortable to say every Nigerian is now census conscious, census aware, in spite of the very significant role that it has to play in our national life.

"But, clearly, the census is absolutely important because it is for development, planning, security, infrastructure development, educational, health and other demographic considerations all encapsulating in one."