By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to conduct a credible, transparent, and internationally acc...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to conduct a credible, transparent, and internationally acceptable national population census, stressing that effective communication, public trust, and inter-agency collaboration will be central to its success.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, who led the commission’s management team on a courtesy visit.
Alhaji Idris highlighted the importance of reliable population data as the backbone of national planning and development, noting that meaningful progress cannot be achieved without accurate demographic information.
“Credible data is the foundation of national development. Without accurate population figures, planning becomes speculative, and policies risk missing their intended impact,” the minister said.
He assured the NPC of full support from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and its agencies, including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), to drive nationwide sensitisation and strategic communication once the President officially announces the census date.
The minister emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to delivering a census that will earn the confidence of Nigerians and the international community alike. He said the government is prioritising due process, legality, and accuracy over haste, in line with global best practices.
Alhaji Idris reiterated that the President’s proclamation is the constitutional and legal basis for conducting a national census and assured that all necessary frameworks are being put in place to meet international standards. He urged the NPC to continue leveraging government-owned media platforms for public enlightenment while pledging his ministry’s full support in promoting government programmes in the national interest.
Earlier, Dr. Aminu Yusuf commended the Ministry of Information and National Orientation for its sustained support and leadership in public awareness ahead of the postponed census.
He disclosed that the NPC remains in a state of readiness, with ongoing improvements in planning, logistics, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and manpower development to guarantee transparency, credibility, and accuracy once a new census date is announced.
Dr. Yusuf appealed for continued access to government media platforms to deepen public understanding of the census process, including the importance of birth and death registration and other vital statistics. He stressed that public trust and participation are critical to effective population data management and assured that the NPC is determined to deliver an exercise that will serve as a reliable tool for governance, development planning, and service delivery.
The engagement reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that Nigeria’s next population census is not only technically sound but also widely accepted as a true reflection of the nation’s demographic realities.
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