Senate Decries 19-Year Census Delay, Demands Headcount in 2025 …as NPC Moves for Biometric Model to Ensure Accuracy

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Senate has expressed deep concern over the country’s failure to conduct a national census in the past 19 years, warning that the lack of credible population data has turned Nigeria into a “laughing stock” among nations with reliable statistics for planning and development.

During a budget defense session with the National Population Commission (NPC) on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, led by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), insisted that a national census must be conducted this year to end reliance on estimated figures.

NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, informed the lawmakers that the commission is working on a biometric-based census to ensure accuracy and credibility.

Committee members, including Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), lamented the prolonged delay, stating that Nigeria should no longer depend on foreign organizations for population estimates.

“I feel very bad that we are still relying on estimated figures and foreign data, which undermines our credibility as a nation,” Plang said. “We must know our population; Nigeria should be counted this year.”

Deputy Minority Leader and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olalere Oyewumi (PDP, Osun West), emphasized the urgency of conducting the census before 2026 to avoid interference with the 2027 general elections.

“The 2025 NPC budget should focus on the census,” Oyewumi stressed. “The demographic statistics we have are outdated, and the President must make a proclamation to facilitate the necessary funding.”

Committee Chairman Senator Abdul Ningi stated that the Senate, through the President of the Senate, would formally request President Bola Tinubu to approve the 2025 census.

In response, NPC Chairman Kwarra assured lawmakers that President Tinubu supports the exercise but insists on a biometric approach to ensure transparency.

“The President is aligned with this committee on the need for a national census, but he wants it conducted biometrically,” Kwarra said. “This will prevent instances where people claim fishes were counted in riverine areas and cows in the North.”

Presenting the commission’s budget, Kwarra disclosed that NPC received a total of N12.7 billion in 2024, with N1.17 billion allocated for capital projects, N818.9 million for overhead, and N10.8 billion for personnel costs.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the commission proposed a budget of N18.2 billion, with N1.17 billion earmarked for overhead and N17.7 billion for capital expenditure.

The Senate Committee approved the budget proposal, reaffirming the need for immediate action to ensure Nigeria conducts a credible national census in 2025.