IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE CENSUS, WE WILL NEED N869 BILLION, ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHILE URGING NIGERIANS TO SUPPORT WITH CASH

The Federal Government (FG) is asking Nigerians for donations in order to cover the estimated N869 billion cost of conducting the population and housing census in 2023.

On Monday, March 6, 2023, Clement Agba, the minister of state for the budget and national planning, declared this during a gathering in Abuja.

He said that the whole cost of the census, including post-census activities, would be N869 billion, or almost 1.88 billion US dollars.

The numbers sound enormous when you hear them. According to global censuses, the average cost per person ranges from $4 to $6.

Agba stated that the census will be digital, green, and revolutionary, and she added that in addition to insecurity and cultural concerns, funding would continue to be a significant obstacle.

He asserted that the people must provide funding to the government “in cash and kind” so that it may, among other things, buy tablets for enumerators, connect to the internet and other data sources, and provide training.