President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a committee to oversee Nigeria’s long-awaited national population and housing census, directing it to submit an interim report within three weeks.

The move marks a significant step towards conducting the country’s first census since 2006, as the government seeks to address critical gaps in data for national planning, social services and economic development.

“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture and food sovereignty. So many problems come up without accurate data,” President Tinubu said during the inauguration which took place at the State House in Abuja. he was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu charged the committee to work closely with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

He said: “We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise. The enumeration has to be technology-driven with biometrics and digitalisation.” The President underscored the importance of modernising the census to ensure credibility and verifiability.

Tinubu also highlighted the importance of securing adequate funding for the exercise.

According to him: “Work with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. This ministry has to take charge of this because you cannot budget if you do not know how many we are.” He urged the committee to explore both domestic and international resources.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and chairman of the committee, Atiku Bagudu, assured the President that the report would be delivered within the three-week deadline. He recalled Tinubu’s advice to ministers to think creatively and maximise available resources, even amid economic challenges. “Despite global economic challenges, Nigeria is making steady progress under President Tinubu’s leadership, with improved foreign exchange stability and a positive growth trajectory. The committee will recommend practical solutions, including strategies for mobilising resources to fund the census,” Bagudu stated.

Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, also a member of the committee, stressed the foundational role of accurate data. “Accurate data is critical for planning across all sectors and a credible census is the foundation for such data,” he said.

Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and secretary of the committee, Nasir Kwarra, confirmed that preparations for the census are already underway. “Accurate census data is essential for informed decision-making and effective policy planning,” he said, reiterating the commission’s commitment to a transparent, technology-driven enumeration that supports national development.

He added: “This gap in accurate population data poses challenges in tailoring reproductive health services and interventions to specific demographic groups, ultimately undermining progress towards reducing maternal mortality and improving access to family planning.”

Kwarra called for collective efforts, saying, “This is not just a health issue — it is a matter of social and economic justice. Denying individuals the right to make choices about their health limits their potential and undermines societal progress.”

The eight-member committee also includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Principal Private Secretary to the President, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff).