The Federal Government has begun considering alternative financing strategies, including partnerships with development partners, to support the conduct of a new national population census, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has said.

Bagudu made this known during a familiarisation visit by the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf, who led a delegation of federal commissioners and senior officials of the commission to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the minister acknowledged the financial demands associated with organising a modern national census but assured that the government remained committed to ensuring the successful execution of the exercise.

While recognising the cost implications, Bagudu noted that the government was exploring innovative funding mechanisms and collaboration with development partners to help facilitate the process.

The statement said, “While recognising the financial challenges involved in conducting a modern national census, the minister assured that the Federal Government is exploring innovative funding options, including collaboration with development partners, to guarantee the successful implementation of the exercise.”

Bagudu also stressed the importance of reliable demographic data in tackling Nigeria’s development challenges and improving public policy planning.

“If we truly want to solve Nigeria’s problems, we must be deliberate about understanding and organising our resources, especially our people,” he said.

The minister explained that credible population data remains crucial for national planning, fair distribution of resources and the formulation of policies that reflect the realities of citizens across the country.

According to him, meaningful development cannot be achieved without accurate information about the country’s population, including where people live, the conditions they live in and the economic opportunities available in their communities.

Bagudu added that Nigeria’s growing population could become a major economic asset if supported by effective planning and strong institutions. Drawing comparisons with countries such as China and India, he noted that large populations can drive economic growth when supported by appropriate policies and development strategies.

He further highlighted the role of demographic and spatial data in identifying economic opportunities across communities. Such data, he said, could promote decentralised development by enabling wards, local governments and states to identify and leverage their comparative advantages.

“There is no community in Nigeria without potential,” Bagudu said, adding that while some areas possess strong agricultural capacity, others are rich in mineral resources, while many function as commercial hubs capable of driving economic activity.

The minister also emphasised that reliable population statistics are critical to promoting transparency and fairness within Nigeria’s federal system, as they provide a credible basis for national planning and resource allocation.

In his remarks, Yusuf said the visit was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the National Population Commission and the ministry in advancing Nigeria’s national planning framework.

He noted that the commission is constitutionally mandated to generate accurate demographic data required for development planning and policymaking.

According to him, the commission conducts population and housing censuses, coordinates the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system, produces demographic statistics for government planning and monitors the implementation of the National Population Policy for Sustainable Development.

Yusuf added that the commission is currently working towards establishing a modern, technology-driven and integrated population data management system for Nigeria.

This, he explained, includes preparations for a credible technology-enabled population and housing census, as well as the expansion and digitalisation of the country’s civil registration system to ensure continuous registration of births and deaths.

He also commended Bagudu for leading the presidential committee that reviewed the financial and operational framework for the proposed census exercise.

According to him, the committee’s work reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting the census within a transparent and fiscally responsible framework.

Yusuf added that accurate population data is essential for effective development planning, the implementation of government programmes and the monitoring of progress toward national development goals.

He reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and collaboration with relevant government institutions to strengthen Nigeria’s population data system.

Nigeria has not conducted a national population and housing census since November 2006, when the country recorded a population of 140,431,790 people. Nearly two decades later, preparations for a new census are still ongoing.

The planned exercise has faced several setbacks over the years, including funding constraints, security challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the National Population Commission initiated plans to deploy digital mapping and biometric systems to improve accuracy, the census was repeatedly postponed.

The 2023 exercise was eventually shelved due to financial constraints and the transition to a new administration, leaving much of the groundwork unfinished.

Earlier proposals for the census budget were also reviewed by the Federal Government, which called for significant cost reductions.

In the proposed 2026 budget, the Federal Government allocated N12.78bn to the National Population Commission for census-related activities, construction of permanent office buildings and procurement of vehicles.

Budget estimates indicate that N770m has been earmarked for the ongoing National Population and Housing Census project, while N8.4bn is set aside for the construction of permanent office buildings for the commission.

The procurement of official vehicles for federal commissioners is allocated N2.8bn, while N54.6m is designated for the development of the National Population Data Bank, the Nigerian Population Database Management System and the hosting of the population geo-portal and web portal.

Other allocations include N1.89m for the preparation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation concept manual and N17.5m for the conduct of a second pretest.