We have spent N200 billion preparing for 2023 census — NPC.

The National Population Commission (NPC) says it has spent about N200 billion for the preparation of the 2023 population and housing census.

Its Executive Chairman, Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, made the declaration at a breakfast meeting in Abuja on Thursday, May 17, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to him, 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. Kwarra said the money included the cost of more than five years of preparing for the exercise.

Adding that the cost of conducting a digital census was high as the commission would be procuring equipment and data needed for the exercise. He said about one million personnel have been recruited to conduct a credible and acceptable digital census.

“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,” he said.