The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, has confirmed that Nigeria's long-awaited national census is scheduled to take place in 2025.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the 2024 Anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Kwarra stressed the importance of the census for effective planning and equitable resource allocation. He noted that the delay in conducting the census has significantly hampered efforts to address population needs, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The NPC Chairman assured Nigerians that the 2025 census will provide accurate data to guide developmental planning and improve governance outcomes across the country.

“This gap in accurate population data poses challenges in tailoring reproductive health services and interventions to specific demographic groups, ultimately undermining progress toward reducing maternal mortality and improving access to family planning,” Kwarra stated.

Nigeria last conducted a population census in 2006, despite the United Nations’ recommendation for countries to hold one every 10 years.

The exercise, originally scheduled for 2023, was postponed twice under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which opted to allow the incoming government to oversee the process.