Buhari consents to delaying the 2023 Census

The 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was initially slated for May 3–7, 2023, has been moved to a date to be selected by the new administration, with President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.

On Friday, April 28, 2023, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President met with the Chairman of the National Population Commission and his staff as well as certain members of the Federal Executive Council.

In making the decision to postpone the census, the meeting reaffirmed the urgent need to conduct a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last one, in order to gather current data that will support the nation’s development goals and raise the standard of living for Nigerians.

The president pointed out that there has been noticeable progress in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census with the completion of the country’s Enumeration Area Demarcation, the running of the first and second pretests, the hiring and training of adhoc workers, the purchase of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and ICT infrastructure.

He also praised the commission’s technique for conducting an accurate and trustworthy census, particularly the widespread use of technology that can provide a world-class census and establish the groundwork for future censuses.

In order to maintain the improvements previously seen and create a foundation for the new government to cement these accomplishments, the president further authorized the commission to proceed with preparations for the conduct of the Population and Housing Census in 2023.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as well as the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, Lai Mohammed, and Clem Agba, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, all attended the meeting.

Hon. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Culture and Information, Abuja, 29 April 2023