The federal government says a national population and housing census is not optional for Nigeria, noting that it is critical to effective planning and sustainable development.
Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by Aminu Yusuf, chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).
The minister said accurate data is critical to effective national planning.
“Data is key to whatever planning you intend to do; if you can’t measure, you can’t plan and if you can’t plan, the results are predictable, therefore, census is not optional for us,” he said.
Idris commended the NPC’s commitment to preparedness and transparency, assuring that President Bola Tinubu will proclaim a new census date at the appropriate time.
“We are waiting for the president’s proclamation, which is the basis for the legal and financial framework of the exercise,” he said.
“The ministry and its agencies stand ready to provide full media and communication support once that announcement is made.”
Yusuf said the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and enhancing media partnerships ahead of the forthcoming national census and other activities of the commission.
He thanked the minister for granting audience to the NPC delegation despite his tight schedule, describing the gesture as “a demonstration of his enduring commitment to national development, responsive governance, and public service”.
The NPC chairman commended the federal ministry of information and national orientation and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for their roles in public enlightenment and mobilisation during preparations for the previously scheduled census.
He also praised government-owned media organisations under the ministry’s supervision for amplifying census messages nationwide.
“This collective effort clearly demonstrated how coordinated government communication can build trust, stimulate participation, and promote national ownership of vital public programmes,” Yusuf said.
He assured the minister that the commission has remained operationally focused and technically prepared despite the postponement of the census.
According to him, the NPC continues to refine its processes to ensure a transparent, efficient, and credible census once a new date is announced by the federal government.
Yusuf said the commission is also strengthening the civil registration and vital statistics system to ensure real-time registration of births and deaths nationwide.
He said sustained government media support through dedicated airtime and coverage across broadcast and digital platforms is needed to deepen public awareness of the commission’s programmes.
Responding, Idris reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to support the NPC’s communication and advocacy efforts.
“Our partnership with the National Population Commission is key; we are only performing our duty, we do not even have an option,” the minister said.
“This is the mandate that we have as ministry of information and national orientation, to be in the forefront of advocacy of government policies and programmes.
“The ministry of information and national orientation is ever ready to partner with you to ensure a very credible national census.”
In July 2023, the NPC chairman, after meeting with Tinubu, said the nation’s leader would announce new dates for the census.
In April 2025, Tinubu inaugurated a high-level committee for the exercise.
The last time Nigeria conducted a census was in 2006 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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