Akpabio decries Nigeria’s conflicting population figures, backs National Census

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed concern over the conflicting population figures circulating about Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for a credible national census. He made this statement during a meeting with members and management of the National Population Commission (NPC), who visited to update the Senate on preparations for the upcoming census. 

 “I don’t want to call it a national disgrace, but it’s a national embarrassment that even Nigerians representing us at international fora do not know our population.”

Akpabio highlighted the critical role of a census in effective national planning and development, stating that it would eliminate the current confusion surrounding Nigeria’s population.

He lamented the wide range of figures presented at international forums and within the country, ranging from 220 million to over 300 million. 

“You cannot truly plan for the future if you don’t know how many mouths you want to feed or how many children to put in school,” Akpabio stated, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for infrastructure development and resource allocation.

He warned that neglecting proper planning would lead to failure for future generations.

ALSO READ : Prof. Anthony Kila endorses Pat Utomi’s shadow cabinet initiative

Akpabio assured the NPC of the National Assembly’s full support in ensuring a successful census exercise. “It is very important that we support you. The National Assembly will stand by you to ensure success,” he affirmed.

NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra, who led the delegation, explained that the visit aimed to brief the Senate President on the commission’s progress and seek legislative support.

He stressed the necessity of the Senate’s backing for a credible census that would provide essential data for national development.

“We aim to make Nigerians proud by delivering a thorough and credible census that provides essential data for policy formulation, planning, and tracking national development,” Kwarra said.

Nigeria’s last national census was conducted in 2006, making the upcoming census a crucial exercise for accurate population data and national planning.