- The House Committee on Population urged the federal government to set a date for the National Housing and Population Census urgently
- Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu warned that census machines risk malfunctioning due to prolonged inactivity, highlighting the need for immediate action
The Chairman of the House Committee on Population, Hon. OkunJimi Odimayo, has called on the federal government to urgently set a date for the National Housing and Population Census. He warned that the machines acquired for the exercise risk becoming unusable if delayed further.
During an inspection of census equipment stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja, Odimayo expressed concern over the situation. He revealed that many of the machines, purchased over a year ago, are now at risk of malfunctioning.
“We observed these assets, and our reactions were mixed. It’s upsetting to see equipment worth billions unused for over a year,” he said.
Odimayo highlighted that about 30% of the machines have already failed, surpassing their one-year warranty. This failure raises concerns about their functionality for the upcoming census.
He urged the relevant commission to conduct a thorough assessment nationwide to determine the exact number of non-functional machines.
“The government has invested over ₦260 billion in this project, and we, as parliamentarians, cannot allow such a huge investment to go to waste,” he stated. “Once the report is ready, we will engage the National Assembly leadership to press the executive arm for an immediate census date announcement by the president.”
Inuwa Jalingo, the Census Manager for the National Population Commission (NPC), confirmed the challenges. He noted issues with the power banks and tablets among the 760,000 devices distributed across the 36 states and the FCT.
Jalingo assured that the commission would compile a detailed report and propose necessary adjustments.
The call underscores the urgency of the census to ensure resources and investments are not squandered.