Nasir Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), has announced that Nigeria will conduct its next Population and Housing Census in 2025, nearly two decades after the last count in 2006.
Kwarra made this revelation during the 2024 anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Abuja on Thursday.
“A major setback that we face is the delay in conducting a Population and Housing Census. A reliable and accurate census is fundamental for good decision-making,” Kwarra said. “But the government, at the highest level, is committed to conducting a census, and we believe it will take place next year.”
This announcement marks an 18-year gap since Nigeria’s previous census, despite the United Nations recommending that countries conduct population counts every ten years. The 2023 census, which had been planned under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was postponed to allow the incoming administration to take ownership of the process.
Kwarra underscored the significant implications of the delay, particularly in limiting informed decision-making and hindering effective resource allocation. He also pointed out the pressing need for accurate data to address critical issues in Nigeria’s rural and underserved areas.
The NPC Chairman emphasized that the country’s failure to conduct timely censuses has impeded progress in advancing sexual and reproductive health rights, eliminating gender-based violence, and promoting inclusivity.
“We are gathered in the spirit of a shared commitment to progress, inclusivity, and the empowerment of individuals, particularly women and young people,” he said. “Our focus is on advancing sexual and reproductive health, eliminating gender-based violence, and promoting equal opportunities for everyone in our nation.”
Kwarra also noted, “We must continue our march to address these challenges head-on. For many in our communities—particularly women, girls, and young people sexual and reproductive health rights remain out of reach.
This is not just a health issue; it is also an issue of social and economic justice. When individuals are denied the ability to make choices about their health and lives, it limits their potential, reduces opportunities, and impacts society as a whole.”
Toyin Saraki, founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, also spoke at the event, pledging continued advocacy and policy support to further the ICPD agenda. She urged private, philanthropic, and multi-sector stakeholders to collaborate in accelerating progress towards the initiative’s goals.
