We’ve spent N200bn to prepare for census – NPC chair

We’ve spent N200bn to prepare for census – NPC chair

The National Population Commission has spent about N200bn so far on the preparation for the 2023 population and housing census.

Executive Chairman of the commission, Nasir Kwarra, said this on Thursday, adding that the money spent was part of the N800 billion expected from the 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.

He said 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 had 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,’’ NAN quoted Kwarra as saying.

He assured the public of the commission’s commitment to ensuring a credible census.

In April, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the postponement of the census.

The exercise was billed to take place across the country between May 3 and 5.