The Federal Government has commenced an 18-month initiative aimed at modernising Nigeria’s population data systems and strengthening national geospatial and population data systems in preparation for the forthcoming Population and Housing Census.

The initiative is aimed at advancing not just census readiness, but also higher-quality public decision-making to boost Nigeria’s national geospatial database, enhance census preparation, evidence-based planning, and broader development goals.

Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, who disclosed this at the high-level meeting on strengthening Nigeria’s national geospatial database and applications for the upcoming Population and Housing Census, organised by the commission in collaboration with the United and the University of Southampton’s WorldPop programme, in Abuja, emphasised the need to put in place a current, spatially precise, integrated, and operationally useful data systems as Nigeria prepares for the next Population and Housing Census.

He observed that a modern geospatial database forms a core part of national planning architecture, which, when well developed and responsibly applied, supports census operations alongside health planning, education delivery, infrastructure targeting, disaster preparedness, agricultural strategy, local governance, and other public priorities. 

Also speaking, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nigeria Resident Representative, Muriel Mafico, noted that Population and Housing Census (PHC) data are fundamental for effective governance, economic planning, national development, and informed decision making. 

Mafico stated that updated Population and Housing Census data are therefore critical for informing national planning and the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as assessing progress towards achieving goals like the SDGs and the Africa Agenda 2063.