We need N869billion to conduct census — FG says, urges Nigerians to support ‘in cash and kind’

The federal government is seeking donations from Nigerians for the conduct of the 2023 population and housing census which it says will cost a whopping N869 billion.

The minister of state for budget and national planning, Clement Agba, said this at event in Abuja on Monday, March 6, 2023.

According to him, “The total requirements for this census, including the post-census activities, is N869 billion, this is about 1.88 billion US dollars.

When you hear the numbers, they really look very huge. Censuses all over the world, the average is between four to six dollars. However, in the United States, they spend $16 per person. In Botswana, they spend about $10 per person. So Nigeria’s $6 per person, you’ll agree with me, is very reasonable.

So far, the government has spent 291.5 billion naira which is $632 million. This is about 46 percent of the requirement for the census. I know this time around we’re not just doing only the population census, we’re also doing a housing census.

So the additional requirements for the critical items to ensure the census is done is 327.2 billion naira. This is about 709.9 million US dollars.”

Agba disclosed that the census would be digital, green, and transformative, adding that beyond insecurity and cultural issues, funding remains a major challenge for the exercise.

He said the government needs support from the public both “in cash and kind”, to among other things purchase tablets for enumerators, internet and data connectivity as well as conduct training.