Nigeria’s Delayed Census: How N219.17bn Was Budgeted Without a National Headcount

Nigeria’s Delayed Census: How N219.17bn Was Budgeted Without a National Headcount

Nigeria’s Delayed Census: How N219.17bn Was Budgeted for Population Exercise Between 2021 and 2026

Nigeria appropriated about N219.17bn for census-related activities from 2021 to 2026, while N79.08bn in identifiable payments was recorded for 2022 and 2023.

Nigeria’s long-delayed national population and housing census has become the subject of renewed scrutiny after an analysis of government budget documents and public payment records revealed that about N219.17 billion was appropriated for census-related activities between 2021 and 2026.

The figure highlights the enormous financial commitment made by the Federal Government toward preparing for a nationwide population count that has yet to take place.

The analysis also identified approximately N79.08 billion in census-related payment transactions between 2022 and 2023 through GovSpend, a civic technology platform that tracks public expenditure.

However, the two figures should not be treated as the same thing.

While the N219.17 billion represents budgetary appropriations covering the six-year period, the N79.08 billion represents identifiable transactions contained in the GovSpend dataset reviewed. The payment records may therefore not represent every release or expenditure associated with the census.

The issue has attracted attention because Nigeria has not conducted a national population census since 2006, leaving policymakers, researchers and development agencies heavily dependent on population estimates and projections.

How Nigeria’s Census Spending Rose Sharply

Government spending on census preparations increased dramatically as the country moved toward the planned 2023 Population and Housing Census.

According to the review of federal appropriation documents, census-related allocations stood at approximately N4.61 billion in 2021.

The figure jumped to about N180.22 billion in 2022, representing an increase of roughly N175.61 billion, or more than 3,800 per cent.

The major component of the 2022 allocation was approximately N177.33 billion specifically earmarked for the National Population and Housing Census.

Other provisions supported activities considered necessary for the planned exercise.

These included funding for enumeration area demarcation across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, census publicity, training, digital mapping, data management, research, monitoring and other preparatory work.

The 2022 budget also included provisions for a stakeholders’ conference on the census instrument, a second pre-test, the National Population Data Bank and database management system, population activities between censuses, and the Census in Schools programme.

The scale of the 2022 allocation reflected the Federal Government’s ambition to conduct Nigeria’s first fully digital population census.

Why the 2023 Census Was Postponed

Nigeria was scheduled to conduct the Population and Housing Census from May 3 to May 7, 2023.

However, then-President Muhammadu Buhari approved its postponement on April 28, 2023, following consultations with relevant government officials and the National Population Commission.

The Federal Government said the decision was necessary to allow the incoming administration to determine a suitable date for the exercise.

The National Population Commission had already completed significant preparatory activities, including enumeration area demarcation, census pre-tests, recruitment and training of personnel, and procurement of digital equipment and ICT infrastructure.

The NPC subsequently described the exercise as rescheduled rather than abandoned, stressing that preparations had already reached an advanced stage.

But more than three years after the postponement, Nigeria is still waiting for a new census date.

Census Allocation Fell Dramatically After Postponement

The postponement had a major effect on the Federal Government’s census spending profile.

In 2023, census-related appropriations were approximately N30.49 billion, including N30 billion provided for outstanding activities connected to the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

That represented a sharp decline from the N180.22 billion appropriated in 2022.

The difference amounted to approximately N149.73 billion, or an 83 per cent decline.

After the census was postponed, the Federal Government significantly reduced the amount allocated to the exercise.

In 2024, census-related appropriations fell to approximately N875.5 million.

The direct census allocation itself dropped to about N693.3 million.

The reduction reflected a shift away from financing nationwide enumeration toward maintaining institutional readiness while awaiting a new decision on the timing and structure of the exercise.

2025 Census Funding Increased Slightly

Funding increased again in 2025, although it remained far below the level recorded during the preparations for the 2023 census.

Census-related appropriations rose to approximately N1.76 billion, representing an increase of more than N885 million from the previous year.

The increase was associated with areas including census publicity, population census activities, legal matters and database management.

However, the direct allocation for the census was approximately N1.1 billion.

The development came amid renewed discussions over how much the next census should cost.

In April 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated a high-level committee on the forthcoming national Population and Housing Census. The committee was tasked with helping establish a realistic path toward a credible and financially sustainable census.

The presidency also stressed the importance of accurate population data for planning and development.

2026 Allocation Drops Again

The 2026 Appropriation Act reduced census-related funding to approximately N1.23 billion, a decline of about N529 million from the previous year's provision.

The direct allocation for the census reportedly fell from approximately N1.1 billion in 2025 to N770 million in 2026.

Taken together, the analysis puts total census-related appropriations between 2021 and 2026 at approximately N219.17 billion.

The spending pattern shows a clear transition.

The government initially prepared for a large-scale digital enumeration, requiring major investment in technology, mapping, logistics and personnel.

After the postponement, however, funding shifted toward maintaining the systems and institutional capacity required for a future exercise.

What the N79.08bn Payment Records Show

Separate transaction-level information reviewed through GovSpend identified approximately N69.32 billion in census-related transactions in 2022 and another N9.76 billion in 2023.

Combined, the identifiable transactions amounted to approximately N79.08 billion.

The records included payments associated with digital census equipment, cloud services, mapping technology, logistics, manuals, publicity materials and operational support.

Among the major categories were purchases of Personal Digital Assistants, or PDAs, which were intended to form an important part of the digital enumeration process.

Other transactions reportedly involved Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure, digital mapping systems, housing-listing applications and transportation of census materials across states.

There were also payments linked to the production and printing of census manuals, posters, flyers and other publicity materials.

However, the absence of identifiable transactions for some years does not necessarily mean that no census-related expenditure occurred during those periods.

This is an important distinction when interpreting the data.

Why N219.17bn and N79.08bn Are Different

One of the most important points in the expenditure analysis is the difference between appropriation and actual payment transactions.

An appropriation is an amount approved in the government budget for a particular purpose.

A payment transaction, on the other hand, represents an identifiable financial transaction recorded in the dataset.

Therefore, an appropriation does not automatically mean that the entire amount was released or spent.

Likewise, a transaction dataset may not contain every payment made by government agencies.

For this reason, the N79.08 billion identified in GovSpend should not automatically be interpreted as the total amount Nigeria has spent on census preparations.

The figures provide different windows into government financing of the exercise.

NPC Previously Explained the Scale of Census Preparations

In 2023, former NPC Director of Public Affairs Dr Isiaka Yahaya addressed reports concerning the amount spent preparing for the census.

He explained that the widely reported figure of more than N200 billion represented preparation costs accumulated over several years rather than money spent within a single administration or immediately before the scheduled census.

According to the explanation, preparations for the 2023 exercise began years earlier, including investments in mapping, technology and other infrastructure.

The NPC also argued that the decision to adopt digital technology on a national scale meant that the exercise required significant investment.

This context is important when evaluating the large figures associated with Nigeria’s census preparations.

Why Nigeria Needs a New Census

Nigeria's last official population census was conducted in 2006.

The 2006 census recorded a population of 140,431,790 people.

Since then, Nigeria's population has grown substantially, while cities have expanded and demographic patterns have changed.

A modern census would provide government with updated information about where Nigerians live, household conditions, housing, age structures and other demographic characteristics.

Reliable population data can influence decisions involving schools, hospitals, roads, housing, electricity, water supply, employment programmes and social services.

It can also help governments determine where infrastructure investment is most urgently required.

Without current and reliable population information, policymakers face greater difficulty determining the actual scale of public needs.

The Bigger Question: When Will Nigeria Conduct the Census?

Despite renewed government attention, a new date for the national population and housing census has not been officially announced.

The NPC has previously warned Nigerians against false claims concerning census dates and recruitment.

The commission has also stated that it would communicate an official date when the President makes the necessary proclamation.

President Tinubu’s inauguration of the national census committee in 2025 nevertheless represented a renewed effort to move the process forward.

The committee was expected to examine issues surrounding funding, timing, methodology and the broader requirements for conducting a credible census.

Accountability Will Remain Central

As Nigeria prepares for another attempt at conducting a national census, financial accountability is likely to remain a major issue.

The government will need to demonstrate that public funds allocated for the exercise are properly tracked, transparently spent and tied to measurable results.

At the same time, it is important to distinguish between legitimate preparation costs and claims of actual expenditure.

A modern census involving digital mapping, cloud infrastructure, electronic enumeration devices, nationwide logistics and hundreds of thousands of personnel can require substantial resources.

But the longer the exercise is delayed, the more important it becomes to ensure that previously acquired technology, equipment and systems remain useful and properly maintained.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s delayed population census has become more than a question of when citizens will be counted.

It is also a question of how effectively public resources devoted to the exercise have been managed.

Between 2021 and 2026, approximately N219.17 billion was appropriated for census-related activities, according to the analysis of federal budget documents.

Meanwhile, approximately N79.08 billion in identifiable census-related payment transactions was found in GovSpend records for 2022 and 2023.

The figures should not be conflated, but together they demonstrate the scale of financial resources committed to preparing for Nigeria’s long-awaited population count.

With the country still relying on the 2006 census as its last official population count, the need for credible and current demographic data remains urgent.

The challenge for the Federal Government is now twofold: conduct a census that Nigerians can trust and ensure that the enormous public resources committed to the process produce a transparent, credible and useful national database.

For millions of Nigerians, the central question remains simple: when will the next national population census finally take place?

FAQ About Nigeria’s National Census

1. When was Nigeria’s last population census conducted?

Nigeria’s last official national population census was conducted in 2006, when the country recorded 140,431,790 people.

2. When was the 2023 Nigerian census supposed to take place?

The 2023 Population and Housing Census was scheduled for May 3 to May 7, 2023, but President Muhammadu Buhari approved its postponement shortly before the exercise was due to begin.

3. How much was appropriated for census activities between 2021 and 2026?

The analysis presented in this report puts the total census-related appropriations at approximately N219.17 billion between 2021 and 2026.

4. How much was identified in payment transactions?

Approximately N79.08 billion in identifiable census-related transactions was found in the GovSpend records reviewed for 2022 and 2023.

5. Does N79.08 billion represent the total amount spent on the census?

Not necessarily. The figure represents identifiable transactions available in the dataset reviewed. It should not automatically be regarded as the government's complete release or expenditure history.

6. Why was Nigeria’s 2023 census postponed?

The Federal Government approved the postponement in April 2023, with the exercise moved to a date to be determined by the incoming administration. The government cited the need for the incoming administration to determine an appropriate timing.

7. Has a new census date been announced?

No official new census date should be treated as confirmed unless it is announced through the appropriate government channels. The NPC has previously warned against misinformation concerning census dates and recruitment.

8. Why is a population census important to Nigeria?

A credible census provides updated demographic information that can support government planning in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure, social services and economic development.

9. Is Nigeria planning a digital census?

The postponed 2023 exercise was designed as a technology-driven census, with significant preparations involving digital mapping, electronic devices, ICT infrastructure and data systems. The NPC described the planned exercise as Nigeria’s first digital Population and Housing Census.

10. Who is responsible for conducting Nigeria’s census?

The National Population Commission (NPC) is the government body responsible for conducting population and housing censuses in Nigeria.

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