Buhari approves N10 billion for census process – Official

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, approved N10 billion for the continuation of Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in 546 local government areas in the country.

The EAD is the process of delineating the entire land area of the country into small geographical and demographic units called Enumeration Areas. The EAD is a preparatory exercise for the actual census.

Mr Buhari also approved an additional N4.5 billion to be included in the 2021 Budget for completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census.

This was disclosed by the Acting Chairman National Population Commission (NPC), Eyitayo Oyetunji, on Monday in Abuja.

“Details from EAD are invaluable for security surveillance and crime prevention,” Mr Oyetunji said.

“The President has graciously followed this up by a further approval of an additional N45 billion to be included in the 2021 Budget for the completion of the exercise as part of preparations for the next census,” he said

“No doubt, this milestone development underscores the president’s understanding of the role of data, especially demographic data as the bedrock for informed development planning and allocation of resources, facilities and services.”

When asked about the timing of the next census, he said no date has been fixed yet.

“I can tell you that we are very close to the conduct of the census.