Buhari approves postponement of 2023 Population and Housing Census

President Muhammadu Buhari has given his nod to the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was earlier scheduled to hold from May 3-7.

The new date for the census will be determined by the incoming administration.

The decision was reached after a meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council, the National Population Commission Chairman, and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, April 28.

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, was reiterated during the meeting.

This is to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standards of Nigerians.

The President commended the National Population Commission for the methodology being put in place to conduct an accurate and reliable census, especially the massive deployment of technology capable of delivering a world-class census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.

He directed the Commission to continue preparing for the 2023 Population and Housing Census to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.

The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.