The 2023 National Population and Housing Census is to commence on May 3, the Federal Government has confirmed.
A member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, Dr Garba Abari, made the confirmation in Abuja on Sunday when he appeared as a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.
Abari explained that the three-day exercise would start on May 3 and end on May 5 across the 36 States in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said, “That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise.
“The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2, now to May 3 to 5.”
“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 National Population Commission was ready to embark on the exercise.
