Population Census 2023: How does it work and why does it matter? A Neusroom explainer
It’s been 17 years since Nigeria last had a population census.
The census which kicked off on March 21, 2006, and lasted for a week, put Nigeria’s population at 140 million people. Although the United Nations (UN) believes that the country’s population should be around 200 million people.
Nigeria’s failure to conduct a population census in the last 17 years has given rise to debates about the country’s actual population, with many arguing that the world’s most populous black nation may not have up to 200 million people as estimated by the UN.
Plans to conduct a census on March 29, 2023, was shelved by the National Population Commission (NPC), the government agency saddled with the responsibility of conducting a census.
The census which was earlier shifted from March 29th to May 3rd had been postponed indefinitely.
This was announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Saturday in a statement said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the postponement of the 2023 Population Census earlier scheduled for May 3rd -May 7th, 2023.
He also announces that President Buhari has further directed the commission to continue in the preparation of the 2023 Population Census.
The chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Hon. Nasir Isa-Kwarra, announced that movement would be restricted for the first three days of the National Population Census, and only diplomats are exempted from the restrictions.
He also revealed that the commission has not gotten all the devices needed to conduct the census.
The commission has decided to utilize digital technology and two main committees the State Population Census Security and Logistics Committee and the State Population Census Publicity Committee which are both constituted by the State Government to coordinate the conduct of the census. These measures are put in place to ensure a hitch-free national census exercise.
With plans now in top gear to conduct a census in 2023, here’s everything you need to know.
What is Population census?
Population census is a procedure that involves the recording, acquiring, and the complete count of all individuals living in a specific geographical area such as a country or region at a specific point in time. The census aims to collect accurate demographic, social, and economic data that involves the entire population.
How often does a nation conduct a census?
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), most countries like the United States (US) conduct population census every 10 years while countries like Canada, Japan, and Australia conduct a census every five years.
Nigeria also conducts censuses every 10 years as mandated by the National Population Commission Act of 1992 but due to various challenges which involve security concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic the census has continually been postponed.
How does it work in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, NPC officials from the census go from door-to-door during the enumeration to gather information. When the enumerator visit, it was critical that homes were available and eager to take part in the census. If a household wasn’t open when the enumerator visit, he or she might have to come back later to gather the required data or information.
The NPC might have occasionally employed different methods, including online surveys or self-enumeration forms, to obtain census data. People wouldn’t have been required to stay at home in these situations, but they were still expected to participate in the census by giving truthful and accurate information.
The National Population Commission in its last census also used Geographic Information System(GIS) technology which is a technology used for collecting, storing, analysing, and presenting geographic or spatial data which in the case of Nigeria was used to locate households and communities. Before the 2006 census, the NPC carried out an Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise, which involved dividing the country into small geographical areas, each with a specific number of households. It also uses the technique of household enumeration whereby trained enumerators visited households within each enumeration area and collected information on the number of people living in each household, their ages, sex, occupation, and other demographic characteristics. It is not necessary for everyone to stay at home during a census enumeration. In the 2006 Nigerian census, individuals and households were encouraged to participate in the census by providing accurate and complete information to census enumerators.
Is movement restricted? What happens during the conduct of a census?
During the conduct of a census, some restrictions are imposed on movement in some areas to ensure an accurate and complete enumeration of the population.
In past censuses in Nigeria, during the enumeration period, movements are restricted usually for a period of two to three days. These restrictions involve the closure of borders, roads, and markets to ensure that people are in their usual residences during the enumeration period.
What is the purpose?
Population census serves several important purposes for Nigeria. The data gathered from the census helps in the planning and development of the county’s infrastructure which includes roads, schools, hospitals, etc. The data from the census helps the government to determine where resources are most needed. The census also helps to identify areas with high poverty rates and create policies and programs to reduce poverty in the country. The data collected can also be used to plan for and respond to natural disasters like floods by identifying locations with high population density.
Population census also helps to determine the educational needs of the country e.g number of schools etc, it also helps to identify the areas where there are high rates of out-of-school children.
In business, a population census helps to identify market opportunities and consumer trends in different regions.
Why does it matter?
A population census matters for several reasons. With the data collected from the census, the government can ensure fairness in the allocation of resources to different areas based on population size.
The data collected is also crucial for effective planning and decision-making in various sectors like transportation, education, etc.
Overall, population census is a valuable tool used to make the government aware of different sectors needed for development and also to create different policies to ensure those problems are solved.
