PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SAYS 2023 CENSUS WILL HELP TACKLE INSECURITY

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the national census scheduled for next year will help in the fight against insecurity. He made the comment at a national stakeholders’ summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census held at the State House in Abuja, according to a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina. The President said the deployment of digital technology will ensure the census data is more accurate and effectively deployed. Despite Nigeria’s high-ranking position on the global demographic map, the President said its population censuses had been conducted irregularly and at intervals, longer than the United Nations recommended 10 years.

President Buhari called for support of stakeholders, which include State Governments, Local Government Councils, Traditional and Religious Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Private Sectors, media, Development Partners, Donor Agencies and the general populace for the successful conduct of the 2023 Census. President Buhari noted that the government would appreciate all support from donors, development partners and the international community in order to ensure that the Commission conducts a census that would be transparent, credible and meet national and international standard. He added that knowing Nigeria’s population and using the data to plan for the people and future generations remain a collective duty owed the nation.

In a remark, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President, Habiba Muda Lawal, said the country had a population growth rate of 2.3 percent, and would likely be the third most populated country in the world by 2050.