President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pressing fast-forward on Nigeria’s long-awaited national census — and he’s making it clear: this time, it’s going digital.
On Wednesday, Tinubu formally kicked off a high-powered presidential committee tasked with setting the stage for Nigeria’s next population and housing count.
Their first deadline? Deliver a detailed interim report in just three weeks.
The President, represented by his Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila at the inauguration in Abuja, underscored how vital an accurate, technology-driven census is to the country’s future.
“Everything from health to education, security to economic policy — it all starts with data,” Tinubu said. “You can’t plan effectively if you don’t know who you’re planning for.”
Nigeria hasn’t conducted a census since 2006 — a staggering 19-year gap for Africa’s most populous country, now estimated to be pushing well beyond 200 million people.
The last headcount recorded 140 million citizens.
This new effort, however, promises to be different.
Tinubu’s administration wants a fully digital process, complete with biometric verification and real-time enumeration — a leap from the pen-and-paper days of the past.
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The committee, chaired by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has its work cut out.
With the country’s economic belt tightening, Tinubu has urged the group to think creatively about how to fund the massive exercise — including sourcing funds both locally and from international partners.
“The census has to be driven by technology,” Tinubu said. “Things have changed since 2006. We need a system that is credible and verifiable.”
Bagudu, speaking at the event, said the team is committed to delivering results quickly. He pointed to recent economic wins under Tinubu — including a more stable foreign exchange market — as signs the country is on the right track despite global financial headwinds.
Also on the team are some of the federal government’s top figures, including the Ministers of Finance and Information, the heads of Nigeria’s tax and identity management agencies, and senior advisors from the presidency.
Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chair of the National Population Commission and also secretary to the committee, said preliminary work is already underway, with efforts focused on laying the groundwork for a smooth, tech-forward enumeration.
“This isn’t just about numbers,” Kwarra said. “It’s about building the data infrastructure that will shape Nigeria’s next decade.”
With the pressure on and the clock ticking, all eyes are now on what the committee will deliver in the coming weeks — and whether Nigeria is truly ready to count everyone, digitally and accurately, for the first time ever.