Nigeria has a long history of census spanning over a century. The first census was conducted in 1866 and this was followed by censuses of 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901. However, all these earlier censuses were restricted to Lagos Colony and environ. The 1871 census marked the beginning of decennial census in Nigeria in line with the British decennial tradition.
Following the amalgamation of the Lagos Colony and the Southern Protectorate in 1906, the 1911 census extended to some parts of the Southern Protectorate. It was marred by incomplete enumeration because some parts of the South had not recognised the legitimacy of the colonial government.
The amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914 by Lord Lugard provided the impetus for population census that had wider coverage. Like in other censuses, the results of 1921 census were population estimates based on tax records as the aged, infants and tax evaders were excluded.
Similarly, in the then Northern region, during the period mentioned above, the census result was based on population estimates from existing records or vital statistics.
The tax riots in Calabar and Owerri provinces in the then Eastern region prevented enumeration in the major towns of these areas in 1931 while the locust invasion resulted in the diversion of some census staff to anti-locust duties in some parts of the Northern provinces.
The outbreak of World War 11 disrupted the conduct of decennial censuses and as such no population census was conducted in 1941. The 1952/1953 population census was regarded as the first modern, national and carefully planned census in Nigeria. The principle of simultaneity was not complied with as the census enumeration was staggered.
The census of Northern Nigeria was conducted between May and July, 1952 while that of the West and Mid-west were conducted in December 1952 and January 1953, respectively. Census in the East was conducted from May to August, 1953. This enumeration strategy made the comparability of data between one region and another difficult.
Furthermore, the disruption of World War 11 made people suspicious of the intention of the exercise and therefore many people did not submit themselves for enumeration. This meant that the exercise was characterised by gross under enumeration.
The 1962 population census covered the whole country and was undertaken simultaneously in May. Although the census was given adequate publicity, the results were not acceptable to the regions on grounds of high politicisation.
The refusal of the government to accept the census of 1962 prompted the 1963 population census which critics claimed were arrived at by negotiation rather than enumeration. The result was contested at the Supreme Court which ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the administrative functions of the federal government.
The 1973 census conducted between November 25 and December 2 was not published on the ground of deliberate falsification of the census figures for political and/or ethnic advantages.
The 1991 census was conducted under Decree 23 of 1989 which set up the National Population Commission, NPC. It was conducted all over the country from November 27 to December 2, 1991. This was the most scientific and most acceptable until the 2006 population and housing census.
In March 2006, Nigeria, for the first time, conducted a population and housing census. Several stages were involved in the project. For the first time, the use of GPS and Satellite Imagery to carve out Geo-referenced EAs was adopted. Also machine readable forms (OMR/OCR/ICR) were used to record information from respondents.
The importance of census cannot be overestimated. A population census is at the center of every planning activity and no meaningful development planning activity can be conducted without taking into account population census data.
It helps not only to estimate the changes in the population in the country at a specific time, but to also evaluate other crucial changes in the country’s demographics. It provides data used by the government for policy-making, planning and administration aimed at enhancing the welfare of the people.
Ideally, a census should be conducted every 10 years. This period allows the government to capture the changes in structure and movement of population correctly. The country is four years behind its census. The population and housing census ought to have been conducted in 2016, one year after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.
However, the new government was not able to conduct the census due to the economic recession in 2017. The exercise is capital extensive, requiring a lot of funds. Another attempt to conduct the exercise in 2020 was hit by corona virus pandemic.
Interestingly, the Buhari administration has earmarked the sum of N176 billion for the exercise in the 2022 budget. It is reported that the first phase of the census 2023, the trial house listing and house numbering, took off officially in selected local government areas of the country on Wednesday. To mark the commencement of the exercise, the NPC accredited President Buhari in his country home in Daura, Katsina state.
Though, the full exercise is scheduled to hold in April 2023, two months after the conduct of the general elections, Nigerians’ prayers remain that the NPC will conduct a hitch-free and acceptable census. The country needs to depart from guessing or dishing out mere figures as the population of the country. With the population explosion, Nigeria needs to have accurate data of birth and death rates for national development.
Ibrahim Mustapha,
Pambegua, Kaduna state
08169056963.
