The federal government has confirmed that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census is scheduled to begin on May 3rd. Dr Garba Abari, a member of the 2023 Census Public Relations and Advocacy Committee, confirmed this during an appearance at the Nigeria News Agency (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.
He said the three-day exercise will begin on May 3rd and finish nationwide on May 5th.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) Executive Director Abari explained that the census records every person, household and structure for the purposes of national planning and project implementation.
He said the date change was due to the postponement of the 2023 gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections.
“That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise,” he said.
He described the census and the 2023 elections as major national events with significant importance. They had also earlier been planned to hold not too far away from each other.
“The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2nd, now to May 3rd to 5th.
“There are two things that informed the shift in date. First, in the course of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.
“The gubernatorial election, as you are aware, had to be shifted by one week. This had a telling effect on the date of commencement of the census.
“Just like election, the Census is also a very long process, from the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading up till the very day of the actual house listing and numbering.
“These will then be followed by the actual capture of the population.”
On the level of preparedness, the NOA boss assured the nation that the NPC was ready for the exercise.
cc: Daily Trust Ng
