Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called for the immediate conduct of Nigeria’s Population and Housing Census in 2024, warning that delaying it until 2026 would interfere with preparations for the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), Abbas expressed satisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a biometric-based census, which he believes will eliminate reliance on outdated population estimates.

“We must ensure the next census happens this year because, by 2026, election campaigns will take priority. Many believe Nigeria’s population is overstated, as voter turnout and school enrollment figures contradict the estimates,” Abbas said.

He emphasized that further delays would worsen data gaps, making national planning more difficult. To ensure the census proceeds, Abbas pledged to personally engage with President Tinubu, citing the President’s respect for the National Assembly as a former parliamentarian.

Addressing concerns over funding, Abbas assured the NPC of the House of Representatives’ support, acknowledging that the 2025 budget may be insufficient but expressing confidence in securing alternative funding sources.

In his remarks, NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, urged the National Assembly to help secure funds for the 2025 Population and Housing Census. He noted that the census, originally scheduled for 2023, has made significant progress in preparation.

Key achievements include:

• Completion of Enumeration Area Demarcation across 774 LGAs.
• Development of a National Enumeration Area (EA) Frame.
• Launch of a digital recruitment platform for ad-hoc staff.
• Conducting pretests and trial censuses to validate methodologies.
• Procurement of 760,000 Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for census operations.
• Establishment of a Census Situation Room for real-time monitoring.

The proposed census aligns with the 2030 round of censuses and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring a more accurate and reliable demographic assessment.