The National Population Commission (NPC) is prepared to conduct the national population and housing census but is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval.

Mrs. Saidat Oladunjoye, the NPC Federal Commissioner in Lagos State, disclosed this on Thursday at an event commemorating this year’s World Population Day.

The Federal Government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had earlier fixed the population census for May 3 to May 7, 2023, budgeting N200bn.

The exercise was, however, cancelled, with Buhari saying his successor, Bola Tinubu, would conduct the exercise.

Oladunjoye stated on Thursday that the NPC was ready and waiting for Tinubu’s go-ahead.

She said, “Nobody knows the exact population of Nigeria at the moment. The last census was held nearly two decades ago, and the date for the next census depends on the President. We have made all the necessary preparations.

“We are only waiting for the President’s go-ahead. I can tell you categorically that we are ready for the census. The census is going to hold anytime soon. We’re waiting for the President to give us the proclamation. We are ready for it.”

The annual event, designated by the United Nations General Assembly, aims to draw attention to the profound impact of population dynamics on development, the environment, and poverty eradication.

Oladunjoye highlighted that the theme of the 2024 World Population Day reflected the evaluation and progress made over the past three decades in implementing the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development, and nearly two decades of Sustainable Development Goals.

“This year’s theme aligns with the SDGs’ golden rule of leaving no one behind. Achieving this promise requires timely, credible, reliable, and well-disaggregated data to understand who the people are, where they reside, their circumstances, ages, and needs,” she said.

She further explained the importance of a modern census using advanced technology to generate reliable data for predicting demographic shifts and addressing diverse population needs.

She said, “Nigeria needs to strengthen its data generating institutions; adequately fund periodic data collection exercises that are inclusive and comprehensive; and most importantly provide a legislative frame to engender timely conduct of censuses as well as promote the use of these data to guide policy decisions.”