By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved postponement of National Population and Housing Census earlier scheduled to hold between May 3 to 7, 2023.
The decision to put on hold the census exercise to a later date suitable for the incoming administration, was explained in a statement by Minister of Communication and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
The minister pointed out that the decision was arrived at after a meeting with stakeholders, including; some members of Federal Executive Council, Chairman of National Population Commission and his team at the Villa on Friday April 28, 2023.
Lai Mohammed added that the meeting observed critical need for the conduct of a population and housing census 17 years after the last one to collect up-to-date data to drive developmental goals of the country and improve living standard of Nigerian people.
He quoted the president to have noted progress made so far to include; completion of Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, Conduct of first and second pretests, recruitment and training of ad-hoc workers, procurement of personal digital and ICT infrastructure among others, adding that massive deployment of technology would help in giving the nation a world-class and above all, laying a sustainable foundation for future censuses.
He said the president however, directed the commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of 2023 census in order to consolidate gains made on which basis the incoming administration would build on after choosing a convenient date for the exercise,” he concluded.
