After a 19‑year hiatus, Nigeria is set to undertake its most ambitious census yet—one that promises to harness cutting‑edge digital tools and biometric technologies to deliver faster, more accurate population data. Inaugurated on April 16, 2025, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this fully tech‑driven census aims to underpin effective policy‑making, development planning, and resource allocation across the federation.
Historical Context and Delays
The last national population and housing census in Nigeria was conducted in November 2006, registering 140,431,790 individuals. Two subsequent attempts—one planned for 2016 and another slated under the Buhari administration in April 2023—were postponed, leaving Nigeria without updated demographic data for nearly two decades. This prolonged gap has hampered evidence‑based decision‑making in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.
Presidential Committee and Timeline
President Tinubu, recognizing the census’s strategic importance, inaugurated an eight‑member Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census on April 16, 2025. Chaired by NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra and supported by his Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, the committee has been charged with:
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Proposing a definitive census date
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Aligning the budget with current economic realities
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Securing necessary domestic and international resources
An interim report is due within three weeks—by May 7, 2025—after which a final roadmap for the census will be presented to the President.
Technological Innovations
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Digital Enumeration via PDA: Approximately 760,000 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices, pre‑loaded with the census questionnaire, are stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria and poised for deployment to enumerators nationwide Biometric Data Capture: Facial and voice recognition technologies will validate respondent identities, reducing duplications and enhancing data integrity.
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS): The NPC will utilize GIS mapping tools—such as ArcGIS—to accurately demarcate Enumeration Areas (EAs), guide field operations, and monitor progress in real time.
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Real‑Time Dashboards: A central dashboard will aggregate field data as it is collected, enabling immediate quality checks and swift corrective actions.
Methodology and Workflow
According to NPC’s census methodology document, the process unfolds in three phases:
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Pre‑Field Prep: Database creation with EA identifiers, satellite imagery review, and enumerator recruitment through an online portal.
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Field Operations: Simultaneous use of NPC 01 (person questionnaire) and NPC 07 (housing characteristics) forms embedded within PDAs, capturing details from household composition to sanitation facilities in line with SDG 6
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Post‑Collection Processing: Automated data validation on the QA Pad, secure cloud storage, and integration with national statistical systems for analysis.
Budget, Funding, and Local Content
An initial allocation exceeding ₦190 billion has been earmarked for the census, covering hardware procurement, software development, training, and logistics. In a significant local‑content move, an ₦85 billion contract was awarded to Zinox Technologies—Nigeria’s premier IT firm—for the supply of digital devices and technical support, reinforcing domestic capacity in large‑scale tech deployments . The NPC will also engage bilateral and multilateral development partners to bridge any funding gaps, recalling that donor contributions constituted 40 percent of the 2006 census budget.
Stakeholders and Governance
Key agencies collaborating on the census include:
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National Population Commission (NPC)
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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
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National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
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Ministry of Digital Economy
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Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
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National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA)
The eight‑member committee features the Ministers of Information and Budget & Economic Planning, directors from NIMC and NBS, and representatives from security agencies, ensuring a coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach.
Comparative Case Studies
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Pakistan’s NADRA‑Led Census (2023): Pakistan’s first fully digital population and household census, executed using Android‑based enumeration apps synchronized with GPS & GIS, demonstrated rapid data synchronization and high levels of data security and accuracy giving them a total population of 241.49 million people.
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Brazil’s Electronic Voting Infrastructure: Brazil’s longstanding electronic voting system—backed by the Superior Electoral Tribunal—offers lessons on high‑availability digital platforms, biometric authentication, and fraud prevention, underscoring the importance of robust cybersecurity and public trust .
Conclusion
With an interim report due by May 7, 2025, Nigeria stands at the cusp of a transformative demographic exercise. If successful, this tech‑driven census will not only update the nation’s population figures but also lay the groundwork for smart policymaking, targeted service delivery, and sustainable development for decades to come.
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