BGT News

Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi has applauded the Buhari-led federal government’s decision to postpone Nigeria’s 2023 population census, BGT News reports.

Obi reacts

FGN's decision to postpone the 2023 Population and Housing Census, scheduled for 3-7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming Administration is a propitious and welcome development. National Census is a critical development and nation-building tool.

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) April 29, 2023

our living standards and growing national housing deficits. It is hoped that when eventually the census is conducted, it will serve as confidence-building measures instead of being fraught with the usual controversy. -PO

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) April 29, 2023

BGT News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for May 3-7 2023.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to newsmen on Saturday.

Mohammed revealed that Buhari gave the approval after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, April 28, 2023.

He said: “In arriving at the decision to postpone the census.

“The meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”
According to the Minister, Buhari said that appreciable progress had been made in the preparation for and implementation of the now postponed census.

He added that the President commended the methodology being put in place by the NPC to conduct accurate and reliable census.
The statement said: “The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pre-tests, the recruitment and training of ad hoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.
“The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.