FG approves May 3 for commencement of 2023 population census

The federal government has revealed that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census would commence on May 3, 2023.

This was confirmed by a member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on 2023 National Population and Housing Census, Dr Garba Abari on Sunday March 26 in Abuja, while addressing newsmen.

He disclosed that the 3-day exercise would begin on May 3 and come to an end on May 5 across Nigeria.

The Informant247 understands that Abari is the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA).

He added that population census exercise would register the profile of everyone, household for the purpose of project execution and national planning.

He said the population census exercise was postponed as a result of postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections to Saturday March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise,” he said.

“The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2nd, now to May 3rd to 5th.

“There are two things that informed the shift in date. First, in the cause of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.

“The gubernatorial election as you are aware had to be shifted by one week. And this also has a telling effects on the date of commencement of the census.

“Just like election, the Census is also a very long process like the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading till the very day of the actual house listing and numbering will commence and then the actual capture of the population will now take place.