National Population Commission (NPC) said it has spent about N200 billion for the preparation of the 2023 population and housing census.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Executive Chairman of NPC, Nasir Kwarra at a breakfast meeting on Thursday.
Kwarra said the money spent was part of the N800 billion expected from the federal government as the total budget for the conduct of the population census.
He added that the money included the cost of more than five years of preparing for the exercise.
According to him, the cost of conducting a digital census was high as the commission would be procuring equipment and data needed for the exercise.
Kwarra said about one million personnel have been recruited to conduct a credible and acceptable digital census.
NAN quoted him saying, “It is important to sustain the tempo of the preparation for the census. The focus of the commission is to lay a foundation for future censuses.’’
Kwarra assured the public of the commission’s commitment to ensuring a credible census.
The Census Manager, Inuwa Jalingo said the commission worked hard to conduct a digital census.
Jalingo added that the commission was prepared to ensure a robust quality dashboard and data for the exercise.
In April, President Muhammadu Buhari approved had approved the indefinite postponement of the census earlier slated for May 3 to 7, 2023.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who announced the postponement in a statement, said the new date for the census would be determined by the incoming administration.
