The 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was originally planned to take place from May 3 to 7, has been postponed, with approval from President Muhammadu Buhari, until a time to be selected by the incoming administration. This is in accordance with a statement that Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, gave to Korrect News Media on Saturday. Following a Friday meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with Nasir Isa-Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), and his team, Buhari was reported to have given the go-ahead.
“In reaching the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the country’s developmental goals and raise the standard of living for Nigerians,” the statement said.
“The President noted that significant progress has been made in implementing the 2023 Population and Housing Census with the completion of the country’s Enumeration Area Demarcation, the conducting of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, the procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and ICT infrastructures.
Here is the full statement:
Press release
The 2023 Census has been postponed, per President Buhari. The 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was initially slated for May 3–7, 2023, has been moved to a date to be selected by the new Administration, with President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval. On Friday, April 28, 2023, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President met with the Chairman of the National Population Commission and his team as well as some members of the Federal Executive Council.
In making the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reaffirmed the urgent need to conduct a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, in order to gather current data that will support the nation’s development goals and raise the standard of living for Nigerians. The President noted that there has been noticeable progress in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census with the completion of the country’s Enumeration Area Demarcation, the running of the first and second pretests, the hiring and training of adhoc workers, the purchase of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and ICT infrastructures.
He praised the Commission’s methods for conducting an accurate and trustworthy census, particularly the widespread use of technology that can provide a world-class census and build the groundwork for future censuses. In order to maintain the improvements already seen and provide a foundation for the new administration to consolidate these accomplishments, the President further authorized the Commission to continue planning for the conduct of the Population and Housing Census in 2023.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, as well as the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and State, Mr. Clem Agba, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, all attended the meeting.
Distinguished Minister of Information and Culture
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Abuja, 29 April 2023
