I’ll engage Tinubu on conducting census this year, says Abbas

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says Nigeria needs to conduct a census to ascertain its “numerical strength”.

Abbas spoke on Tuesday when the board and management of the National Population Commission (NPC) led by Nasir Kwarra, its chairman, and Ojogun Osifo, the director-general, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Addressing the speaker, Kwarra said President Bola Tinubu has approved the conduct of a biometric-based census in 2025.

Responding, Abbas said a national headcount was long overdue.

“It is unacceptable for a country as big as Nigeria to stay for 19 years without conducting a population census,” Abbas said.

The speaker added that he will engage Tinubu to ensure that the national census is conducted this year.

The presiding officer of the green chamber said a census would help dispel doubts about the country’s population which some believe to be exaggerated.

“Statistics don’t lie. I will be part of those who will engage Mr president on the issue of conducting census this year,” he said.

“I will see my counterpart in the senate on how to see Mr president. It will be a historic thing.”

Abbas added that a national census under the current administration will “immortalise” the president.

The last time the country conducted a census was in 2006 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.