Earlier this year, the Nigerian Population Commision (NPC), to conduct a census in April 2023. If all goes well, this would be the first time since 2006 that Nigeria is conducting a census. Ideally, based on United Nation (UN) recommendations, a census should happen .听
We like to say naija no dey carry last but it looks like we鈥檝e carried last here o.
Why does a country need a census anyway?
Censuses are an important aspect of demographic research. Any government worth its salt would want to know its gender distribution, youth population size and collate date on the aged, housing and other key statistics.
How have censuses been in Nigeria?
狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚 took place in 1911 鈥 before we were even known officially as Nigeria. Even then, it was not a full census. It was just for southern Nigeria.听
The first national census and it sort of set the tone for how censuses in Nigeria would go. It was marred by irregularities, including inadequate staffing and boycotting because people thought it would lead to more taxes.
Between then and 1989 when the NPC was created, six censuses were conducted and each came with their varying challenges. Keep in mind that there was a .
In 1991, another census was held that put 狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚 population at 88.5 million. The last census, conducted in 2006, placed 狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚 population at 140 million. There were a lot of objections to this number at the time. Then Lagos State governor and current presidential candidate of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu, .
What are the reactions to the upcoming census?
The former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, in October, and afflicted with the 鈥減olitics of numbers.鈥 He added that in the past, population figures were determined based on calculations relating to the allocation of resources which were determined by ethnicity, regional and religious differences. It鈥檚 hard not to see his point.
In the same month, a non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on its plans to hold a census in 2023. It called on the government to postpone it, noting that it makes 鈥渘o economic sense鈥, at a time when Nigeria is battling the devastating effects of floods and hyperinflation.
In September, vice president Yemi Osinbajo said the 2023 census . On November 9, 2022, the NPC told the Senate that the census.
So, is Nigeria ready for a census?
The simple answer is yes. It is clearly overdue. Already, on the mapping and enumeration of areas. But the real question is whether the census data would be a true representation of the Nigerian population and not聽 some magomago figure.听
The answer to that remains unclear. The NPC has already come out to make the bold claim that the 2023 census will . There are two ways this can go: either it turns out to be an unprecedented failure or a resounding success. We can only hope it鈥檚 the latter.
