Effective public communication has been identified as a critical pillar for the success of Nigeria’s long-awaited national population census, even as Nigerians continue to await the formal proclamation of a date for the exercise.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Abuja while receiving the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, who led a management delegation of the Commission on a courtesy visit on Tuesday.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering a credible, transparent and internationally acceptable census, stressing that accurate population data remains the bedrock of national development planning.

“Credible data remains the foundation of national planning. Without accurate population figures, effective development planning becomes impossible,” Idris said.

He assured the NPC that the Ministry and its agencies; including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), are fully prepared to mobilise Nigerians and drive nationwide advocacy once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu proclaims a census date.

Idris emphasised that although Nigerians are eager for the exercise, the administration is determined to get the process right, noting that credibility, legality and global best practices would not be sacrificed for speed.

“The presidential proclamation remains the legal basis for the conduct of the census, and Mr. President is carefully aligning all requirements to ensure the exercise meets international standards,” the Minister added.

Speaking earlier, the NPC Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, commended the Ministry of Information and National Orientation for its consistent support and leadership in public mobilisation efforts ahead of the postponed census.

He said the Commission remains operationally ready, with systems, logistics, ICT infrastructure and personnel continuously refined to guarantee efficiency, transparency and credibility once a new census date is announced.

Dr. Yusuf also sought sustained access to government-owned media platforms to deepen public understanding of census participation, civil registration and vital statistics, describing public trust as central to effective population management in Nigeria.

Nigeria last conducted a national population census in November 2006, making it nearly two decades since the country last carried out an official headcount. Several attempts to conduct another census have failed over the years due to funding constraints, insecurity, logistical challenges and political considerations.

Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a census scheduled for 2023 was postponed indefinitely, despite extensive preparations, due to concerns over rising insecurity, economic pressures, and the proximity of the general elections. The postponement further deepened Nigeria’s reliance on population estimates and projections for planning and governance.

Observers have consistently warned that the prolonged absence of up-to-date demographic data has negatively affected resource allocation, infrastructure development, social services delivery and electoral planning across the country.