Former presidential candidate and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has renewed calls for Nigeria to conduct a fresh population census, warning that the country can no longer afford to rely on outdated demographic data more than two decades after the last exercise.
Kwankwaso said the prolonged delay in conducting a new census has affected national planning, resource allocation and effective policy development, stressing that accurate population figures remain critical to addressing Nigeria’s growing economic and social challenges.
“The time for excuses is over,” Kwankwaso said, arguing that Nigeria must prioritise a credible and transparent census that reflects the country’s current realities.
Nigeria’s last population census was conducted in 2006, with the exercise putting the country’s population at about 140 million people at the time. Since then, the population has continued to rise significantly, with projections now placing the figure at more than 200 million.
Kwankwaso said relying on decades-old statistics makes it difficult for governments at all levels to properly plan for essential services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and employment.
He called on relevant authorities to ensure that the next census exercise is conducted without political interference, describing accurate population data as a foundation for sustainable development and equitable governance.
The former Kano State governor’s comments come amid renewed national debate over Nigeria’s demographic challenges and the need for reliable data to guide government decisions.
Analysts have repeatedly stressed that a modern census is essential for determining population trends, improving public service delivery and ensuring fair distribution of national resources across the country.
