By Uche Onyeali
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has stressed the key role of a national population and housing census for effective planning and sustainable development.
Idris, who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Aminu Yusuf, noted that considering the importance of such exercise, Nigeria could no longer view national census as optional, as accurate data is critical to effective national planning.
“Data is key to whatever planning you intend to do; if you cannot measure, you cannot plan and if you cannot plan, the results are predictable, therefore, census is not optional for us,” he said.
The minister commended NPC for its commitment to the preparation and transparency of the exercise, assuring that President Bola Tinubu would proclaim a new census date at the appropriate time.
“We are waiting for the president’s proclamation, which is the basis for the legal and financial framework of the exercise.
“The ministry and its agencies stand ready to provide full media and communication support once that announcement is made,” Idris said.
Speaking earlier, Yusuf said the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and enhancing media partnerships ahead of the forthcoming national census and other activities of the commission.
He thanked the minister for granting audience to the delegation despite his tight schedule, describing the gesture as “a demonstration of his enduring commitment to national development, responsive governance and public service.”
The NPC chairman commended the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, as well a the National Orientation Agency, NOA, for their roles in public enlightenment and mobilisation during preparations for the previously scheduled census.
He also commended government-owned media organisations under the ministry’s supervision for amplifying census messages nationwide.
“This collective effort clearly demonstrates how coordinated government communication can build trust, stimulate participation and promote national ownership of vital public programmes,” Yusuf said, even as he assured the minister that the commission had remained operationally focused and technically prepared despite the postponement of the census.
According to him, NPC continues to refine its processes to ensure a transparent, efficient and credible census once a new date is announced by the federal government.
Yusuf said the commission is also strengthening the civil registration and vital statistics system to ensure real-time registration of births and deaths nationwide.
He added that sustained government media support through dedicated airtime and coverage across broadcast and digital platforms is needed to deepen public awareness of the commission’s programmes.
