THE 2023 Census Manager and Director, National Population Census (NPC), Inuwa Jalingo has said there is a probability that the exercise may be postponed.
Speaking on Channels TV on Friday, April 28, Jalingo said validation on building numbering and counting had not been duly done to enable a credible census.
The 2023 census manager also stressed that there are a series of technical problems and issues that need to be fixed before the Commission proceeds to conduct the exercise.
“The actual counting is supposed to begin on the third of May but before that we have what we call building numbering and counting which we have not done.
“On the technical processes, before you do a census that is persons enumerations, we have what we call daily numbering and also listing, we have all information of the building and the enumeration and demarcation of the buildings.
“Some buildings have been stocked up in so many places and some have been demolished, so we need to update some of the information on our database and be ready for the census and we also need to identify the building on our database and that will take seven days of training with five days field work and about two to three days of validation to ensure that there is consistency in the data.”
According to Jalingo, the counting and numbering of households and buildings is a standard framework and procedure to achieve a credible census.
“There is a global process that we need to follow to ensure that we actualize a credible census.”
He noted that the chairman of the National Population Commission will address Nigerians on further developments on the census.
“By the end of today the Commission wil have a high level consultation,and the chairman we communicate with Nigerians.
“There is a leadership in the country and census is a very good national assignment that require engagement at the highest level of governance and I think except that is done a clear message would be sent to Nigerian.”
The ICIR earlier reported that the National Population Commission (NPC) postponed a training programme organised for enumerators and supervisors involved in the 2023 population census.
The training, which the NPC slated for April 13, was postponed indefinitely.
However, the Commission assured that the development would not affect the conduct of the population and housing census scheduled to hold from May 3 to 7.
First census after 17 years
The 2023 national population census will be the first in Nigeria in 17 years.
The census, scheduled be conducted in May, according to the NPC, will meet global best standards.
Nigeria’s estimated population is more than 200 million, and the United Nations expects that to double by 2050. That would make Nigeria the world’s third most populous country, overtaking the United States.
The census had been earlier scheduled for March 29 but was postponed due to the postponement of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
According to the NPC, the census will be conducted digitally. This, according to the Commission, is in line with the United Nations (UN) recommendations.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.8 billion for the Commission to procure software to be used for the conduct of the exercise.
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