FG considers devt partners to fund national census

The Federal Government is exploring innovative financing options, including partnerships with development partners, to support the conduct of a new national population census, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has said.

Bagudu disclosed this during a familiarisation visit by the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf, who led a delegation of federal commissioners and senior officials of the commission to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the minister acknowledged the financial challenges associated with conducting a modern national census but assured that the government was committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the exercise.

While recognising the cost implications of the exercise, Bagudu said the Federal Government was considering alternative funding strategies and collaboration with development partners to support the process.

The statement read, “While recognising the financial challenges involved in conducting a modern national census, the minister assured that the Federal Government is exploring innovative funding options, including collaboration with development partners, to guarantee the successful implementation of the exercise.”

It noted that the minister also emphasised the importance of reliable demographic data in addressing Nigeria’s development challenges and strengthening public policy planning.

“If we truly want to solve Nigeria’s problems, we must be deliberate about understanding and organising our resources, especially our people,” Bagudu said in the statement.

He explained that credible population data remains essential for national planning, equitable distribution of resources, and the design of policies that reflect the realities of citizens across the country.

According to him, meaningful development cannot take place without accurate information about the country’s population, including where people live, the conditions under which they live, and the economic opportunities available within their communities.

Bagudu further noted that Nigeria’s growing population could serve as a major economic asset if supported by effective planning and strong institutions. Drawing comparisons with countries such as China and India, the minister said large populations can become powerful drivers of economic growth when supported with appropriate policies and development strategies.

He also highlighted the importance of demographic and spatial data in identifying economic opportunities across Nigeria’s communities. According to the minister, such information could help drive decentralised development by enabling wards, local governments, and states to identify and harness their comparative advantages.

“There is no community in Nigeria without potential,” Bagudu said. He added that while some communities possess strong agricultural capacity, others have mineral resources, and many function as commercial hubs capable of driving economic activity.

Bagudu also stressed that reliable population statistics are essential for strengthening transparency and fairness within Nigeria’s federal system, as they provide a credible basis for national planning and allocation of resources.

In his remarks, Yusuf said the visit formed part of efforts to deepen cooperation between the National Population Commission and the ministry in strengthening Nigeria’s national planning framework.

He explained that the commission is constitutionally mandated to generate accurate demographic data required for development planning and policymaking.

According to him, the commission conducts population and housing censuses, coordinates the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system, produces demographic statistics for government planning and monitors the implementation of the National Population Policy for Sustainable Development.

Yusuf said the commission was currently advancing plans to establish a modern, technology-based and integrated population data management system for Nigeria.

He noted that this includes preparations for a credible technology-enabled population and housing census, as well as the expansion and digitalisation of the country’s civil registration system to ensure continuous registration of births and deaths.

Yusuf also commended Bagudu for leading the presidential committee that reviewed the financial and operational framework for the upcoming national census.

He said the committee’s work demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting the exercise within a transparent and fiscally sustainable framework.

The NPC chairman added that accurate population data remains critical for development planning, implementation of government programmes and monitoring progress towards national development goals.

He reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and collaboration with relevant government institutions to strengthen Nigeria’s population data system.

The PUNCH reported in December 2025 that Nigeria appeared to be on the verge of entering a two-decade stretch without a national population and housing census.

It was reported that the eight-member high-level committee set up by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April to review the census budget had not submitted its report, despite being given three weeks to present an interim document.

The committee is chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu. Nigeria last conducted a national census in November 2006, recording a population of 140,431,790 people. Nearly 20 years later, the country is still struggling to complete preparations for a new count.

The planned census had faced several setbacks under former President Muhammadu Buhari, including funding shortages, insecurity and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite moves by the National Population Commission to deploy digital mapping and biometric systems to improve accuracy, the exercise was repeatedly postponed.

The 2023 census was eventually shelved due to financial constraints and the transition to a new administration, leaving much of the groundwork incomplete as Buhari exited office.

In March 2025, The PUNCH reported that former NPC Chairman Nasir Kwarra submitted a N942bn census budget to the President, which Bola Tinubu rejected, prompting calls for significant cost reductions.

The Federal Government allocated N12.78bn to the National Population Commission in its proposed 2026 budget for census activities, construction of permanent office buildings and vehicle procurement.

According to the budget estimates sighted by Sunday PUNCH, N770m is allocated for the ongoing National Population and Housing Census project, while N8.4bn is earmarked for the construction of permanent office buildings for the commission.

The purchase of official vehicles for federal commissioners is allocated N2.8bn. The development of the National Population Data Bank, the Nigerian Population Database Management System, and the hosting of the population geo-portal and web portal are to receive N54.6m.

Preparation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation concept manual will cost N1.89m, while N17.5m is planned for the conduct of a second pretest.