NPC: Why we postponed 2023 census

The National Population Commission (NPC) says the 2023 Population and Housing Census was postponed due to the government’s transition programme and the post-election mood in the country.

The 2023 Census Manager and Director, NPC, Dr Inuwa Jalingo, made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, April 30.

The Federal Government had postponed the 2023 census earlier scheduled for May 3 to May 7 indefinitely.

Jalingo, who asserted the preparedness of the commission for the 2023 census, said the NPC had prepared ground for the first-ever digital census in Nigeria.

He stated that the commission had achieved the topmost success in all ramifications in terms of preparation.

“We achieved international standard for digital census.

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“About 450,000 digital gadgets were procured and distributed to all the local governments,” he said.

Jalingo, however, said the government was a continuous process, expressing hope that the incoming administration would build on the successes recorded for the eventual conduct of the census.

The 2023 census manager lauded President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for its support, saying the commission had successfully trained about 60,000 facilitators across the country.

“Anyone saying we are not prepared must be saying that out of ignorance,” he said.

Jalingo reiterated the benefits of the census which were not unconnected with national economic planning and provision of data for administrative planning.

He stressed that the commission was able to mobilise Nigerians for the 2023 census with every information required for a successful census.

The Star