President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today issued a decisive marching order for Nigeria’s first-ever technology-driven national census, giving a freshly-inaugurated Presidential Committee three weeks to deliver an interim report that could reshape the nation’s population data landscape.
The move, coming nearly two decades since Nigeria last counted its population in 2006, is being seen as a pivotal moment in the country’s digital governance journey.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census at the State House in Abuja, President Tinubu says that the success of the planned headcount depends on a tech-first approach.
“We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise,” the President says.
“We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise,” the President says, directing the team to leverage biometrics and digitalisation for a credible count, according to a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), seen by Technology Times.
Why this census matters
For Nigeria—a country still relying on 2006 data that recorded a population of 140,431,790—this isn’t just about numbers. This is about national development, budgeting, and planning for sectors like healthcare, education, security, and economic growth, all of which hinge on reliable demographic data.
President Tinubu is spelling it out: without knowing how many Nigerians there are, it’s near impossible to plan for their future.
“You cannot budget if you do not know how many we are,” the President says, making it clear that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning must take charge of the process.
Who’s on the Committee?
The eight-member committee, chaired by Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning,, includes key players from across government:
- Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
- Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
- Director General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
- Muhammed Idris, Minister of Information,
- Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC),
- Principal Secretary to the President
- Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations
Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), who will also serve as Secretary of the committee, says the commission has already begun preparations for the national population and housing census in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other relevant stakeholders.
“We are identifying key requirements and laying the foundation for Mr. President to make an informed decision,” Kwarra says, assuring Nigerians that the process will be credible and digitally-driven.
The committee’s task goes beyond headcount logistics. It is being mandated to also address the financing of the census by exploring both domestic and international funding options.
Bagudu, Chairman of the committee recalls the President’s directive to cabinet members during their retreat: be innovative, even in hard times.
“Despite global economic challenges, Nigeria is making steady progress under President Tinubu’s leadership,” Bagudu says, citing foreign exchange stability and positive economic growth as signs of recovery.
“We will recommend practical solutions, including strategies for mobilising resources to fund the census.”
The Federal Government says that a tech-enabled census aligns with President Tinubu’s broader digital transformation vision, seen in recent moves to reform Nigeria’s tech sector, boost e-governance, and reposition the nation’s digital economy.
For Muhammed Idris, Minister of Information, this census is not just a count—it’s a gateway to planning the future.
“Accurate data is critical across all sectors. A credible census is the foundation for such data,” Idris says.
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