Latest NPC News Today 7th July 2023 can be accessed below.
Chairman Nasir Kwarra of the National Population Commission has revealed that President Bola Tinubu will personally announce the revised dates for the postponed population and housing census in Nigeria. Kwarra shared this information with State House Correspondents after briefing the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the briefing, the NPC presented its report to the President, who will review it and consider the appropriate timing for the nationwide census. Kwarra emphasized that the Commission would require additional financial provisions due to the delay, as the financial requirements for the census have increased.
“We provided a comprehensive update on our preparedness and the expected outcomes, and I am pleased to announce that President Tinubu has graciously approved his support for the Commission in conducting the census and our preparatory activities,” stated Kwarra. “While we await his decision after studying our submission, we will continue our preparations until we receive the official date for the census.”
Kwarra expressed gratitude for the President’s recognition of the importance of accurate data for national planning and development. The NPC Chairman acknowledged that the Commission had encountered challenges with the transition program for the new government and funding issues, resulting in the previous postponement of the census.
During the briefing, Kwarra informed the President that the Commission had nearly completed the nationwide delineation, with only a few areas remaining. Additionally, 60,000 teachers had been trained to subsequently train enumerators and supervisors.
In a document titled “Implementation Status of the 2023 Population and Housing Census,” the NPC requested the release of the allocated capital funds of N31 billion from the 2023 budget for preliminary operations. The total cost of the census was estimated to be N546.72 billion after reviewing the methodology.
Kwarra also sought the President’s approval for an additional N225.2 billion to cover fieldwork and training allowances, retraining of trainers, and the execution of a second-class Trial Census. Furthermore, he proposed a stakeholders conference involving the organized private sector and overseas partners to mobilize funding for the census.
Kwarra highlighted the creation of a comprehensive database in Nigeria that could contribute to future planning, infrastructure development, and government revenue generation. The NPC had already tested the market by offering geospatial data to academics, generating over N50 million through REMITA. NPC completed the mapping process in March 2022.
By harnessing these resources, Kwarra projected that NPC could generate up to $14 billion in revenue by 2028 and streamline economic planning processes, leading to significant resource savings for the country through automation.
