A coalition of civil society organisations under the banner of Open Alliance has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently conduct a credible National Population and Housing Census ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group expressed concern that nearly two decades after Nigeria’s last census in 2006, the country continues to rely on population projections rather than verified data for planning and resource allocation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the coalition noted that Nigerians aged 18 years and below have never witnessed a national census, describing the prolonged delay as a major setback to effective governance and democratic representation.
Since the 2006 exercise, Nigeria has conducted five general elections, witnessed changes in administrations at federal and subnational levels, and experienced significant demographic shifts.
The coalition recalled that in April 2025, the Presidency announced the inauguration of a committee to lay the groundwork for a long-overdue census.
The committee, chaired by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, was mandated to submit an interim report within three weeks.
However, several months after the announcement, the group said no report, timeline, or policy direction has been made public, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s demographic data gap.
The coalition also questioned the adequacy of budgetary provisions for the exercise. It pointed out that N770 million was allocated for the National Population and Housing Census in the 2026 capital expenditure proposal.
When distributed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the amount translates to approximately N20.8 million per state, a figure the group described as unrealistic for a nationwide census.
It further noted that a similar allocation of N693.3 million in the 2024 budget did not lead to tangible preparatory actions or measurable progress.
Commenting on the issue, Joseph Amenaghawon, Acting Country Director of BudgIT, stressed that a credible census goes beyond a statistical exercise.
“Accurate demographic data informs fiscal transfers, constituency delineation, infrastructure planning, healthcare delivery, education policy, and social protection programmes.
“In the absence of reliable population data, public policy becomes guesswork, undermining efficiency, equity, and accountability in governance,” he said.
The coalition warned that as Nigeria prepares for its sixth general election since the last census, continued delay in conducting the exercise poses significant risks to democratic representation, development planning, and social cohesion.
It urged the House of Representatives and the Senate, currently reviewing the 2026 proposed budget, to prioritise funding and ensure that a credible National Population and Housing Census is conducted within the year, before full-scale electoral preparations commence.
Signatories to the statement include BudgIT Foundation, Network for Empowerment and Development Initiative, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, Advance Strategic Policy Center, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), ITREALMS Media Group, Accountability Lab, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Niger State Open Alliance, and Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI).
Comment here