CEM REPORT | The Federal Government has so far spent a total sum of N21 billion towards the mapping of enumeration areas for the 2023 national census.
The federal government noted that the provision of funds for the implementation of important preliminary activities is its tangible commitment to the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo speaking at a breakfast meeting with Partners on the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Abuja organised by the National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with UNFPA, explained that the sum of N198 billion had been approved in the 2022 Appropriation Act and about 60 percent of the funds had been released for the exercise.
He said the funds had positioned the commission in readiness for the successful conduct of the census in April 2023.
Osinbajo stressed the need for the census as he noted it will help the government collate data that will guide its policies and provision of amenities.
“Specifically, the federal government has spent about N21 billion for the mapping of the country into enumeration areas for the census.
“By 2050, Nigeria is projected to have 400 million people; government must continue to provide quality basic education, nutrition and healthcare for them; improve on security and create more job opportunities for our young people who currently make up more than half of our country’s population.
“Thus, the work of NPC and its partners is even more crucial at this point—adequate planning, data and structure are vital factors in creating sustainable growth and national development.
“The government, so far, has now approved the sum of N198 billion in the 2022 Appropriation Act of which about 60 per cent has since been released.”
Osinbajo who was represented by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, commended NPC, UNFPA and all the partners for their commitments and hard work to meet the set goals.
“I would like to urge our distinguished partners to extend maximum cooperation to the country, our government, in the execution of this very important project.
“It is the expectation of that as our dependable partners, you will as always, play this expected role towards the successful conduct of the 2023 census.”
Executive Chairman of NPC, Nasir Kwarra, said the meeting provided a good opportunity to discuss the journey so far in the preparation for the exercise.
He added that the objectives of the breakfast are to solicit support and mobilise resources to bridge the resource gaps and promote robust national and international collaboration.
He said the third objective was to foster national and international engagement through the inauguration of the Nigeria 2023 Census Partners Forum.
Kwarra said the commission was taking requisite steps towards a successful census in 2023.
“In preparations for the 2023 Population Housing Census, the commission has since implemented several critical preparatory activities necessary for the success of the exercise.
“This includes the demarcation of the country into enumeration areas, design and development of tools and instruments, the conduct of the first and second pre-test, and validation of instruments.
“the conduct of a trial census to test the methodology, programmes, computational techniques, and equipment that will be used in the census and the conduct of a national stakeholder’s summit.”
