National

FG proposes additional N1.1bn for population census

Fumilayo Adekunle
Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Kwarra
The Federal Government has proposed an additional N1.1 billion in the 2025 budget for the long-delayed national population and housing census, an increase from the N693.3 million allocated in 2024, The Telegraph has learned.

In total, the 2025 budget includes N527 million in census-related allocations, currently under review by the National Assembly for approval. These funds will cover various preparatory and operational activities, including:

  • N78 million for the national population data bank, population database management system, and hosting of related websites and portals.
  • N2.7 million for the development of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) concept manual.
  • N10 million for school-based census programs.
  • N25 million for conducting a second pretest.
  • N10 million for a stakeholders’ conference to present the 2018 census instruments.
  • N2.5 million for creating a small area/EA level database for spatial analysis and dissemination.
  • N2 million for field demarcation in 774 local government areas.
  • N17.7 million for intercensal activities, including surveys, population projections, and the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey.
  • N247.3 million for census publicity and advocacy across media platforms.
  • N40 million for research, documentation, and archiving, including studies on special populations such as herders, fishermen, and migrant farmers.
  • N2.3 million for cartographic consumables needed for the demarcation exercise.
  • N90 million for World Population Day and annual census day events.

The last national census in Nigeria took place in 2006, although the United Nations recommends conducting such counts every 10 years. The 2023 census, initially scheduled for May 3-7, was postponed indefinitely under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

At that time, the National Population Commission (NPC) projected that N532.7 billion would be required for the census. This estimate was later revised to N869 billion, with N291.5 billion already spent and an additional N327.2 billion needed.

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Despite the postponement, the NPC reported spending N200 billion on planning and partial execution of the census. NPC Chairman Nasir Kwarra expressed optimism in November 2024 that the Presidency would approve the conduct of the census in 2025.