Josephine Lohor and Onyebuchi Ezigbo
30 December 2006
Abuja — Nigeria's population now stands at 140,003,542, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Samu'ila Danko Makama has announced.
The figure shows a growth of about 20 million from the 1991 census figure of 120 million.
The provisional result of the 2006 National Population and Housing Census was presented by Makama to President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday at an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in line with Section 213 of the 1999 Constitution.
The census report showed a growth rate of 3.2 per cent and a female to male ratio of 105 males to 100 females (71,709,000 males and 68,293,683 females).
However, Makama disclosed that final results of figures for Local and State Governments would be ready in six to eight weeks, while final results of the whole census will be made available in six to eight months time.
Receiving the report, President Obasanjo noted that he "hurriedly summon" members of the FEC to be witnesses to the presentation in accordance accordance with the constitution and in compliance with his promise not to have prior knowledge of the census figures until it is given publicly.
The President, however, said that he would not make any categorical official statement on the figures until he forwards same to the National Council of State.
The President who described the census figures just released as "accurate and reliable", and jokingly added that "it means that Nigerian men will marry less", said that he is however not shocked by the figures released because it falls within the range of what the Federal Government has been planning.
While thanking the NPC for the conclusion of the job that has been on for the last three years, the President noted that he believes "the way the commission has handled this and presented it to Nigerians must give most people joy and satisfaction. It is important for us to be able to say with reasonable amount of certainty how many we are. It has, however, not alarmed or disturbed me because it is still within the range of what we are planning. But now, we can plan a little bit more scientifically with the job you have done for us".
President Obasanjo also thanked Nigeria's development partners especially the European Union (EU) for supporting the census.
Chairman of the NPC had while emphasizing the authenticity of the census figures said, "Mr. President has never known in advance the figures released. He has never required of me the population of this country up until this moment that I am speaking. Members of the commission had no clue of the figures until about 30 minutes ago (before the submission in the State House) and they unanimously adopted the figures and from the boardroom we came to the State House.
"Therefore, there should be no accusation of the President or any other person of manipulation of census figures. He has never either covertly or overtly tried to find out what the figures look like."
Makama put the cost of the census exercise as at the last count at N36bn, with the Federal Government and development partners sharing the budget at N18bn each. The Chairman, however, said the actual release of the census result to the public would come after the President had deliberated on it along with the Council of State and the National Assembly. Quoting the Census ACT, the Chairman said the law requires the commission on completion of the census data collation to submit same to the President for further consideration.
Restating the determination of the commission to deliver to Nigerians an accurate and reliable census data, Makama said the final result of the census justified the effort put into it by the officials.
"We were conscious of the enormity of the responsibility placed upon our shoulders and determined to make a positive difference by charting a new course for census taking in Nigeria," he said.
He appealed to Nigerians, particularly the major stakeholders, to view the 2006 census from a wider national perspective of the exercise being a bold attempt to launch the country into new era of purposeful planning for sustainable development.
Speaking on the accuracy of the census result, the Chairman said although the commission has done its best, he could not rule out the possibility of genuine complaint, adding that such complainants should endeavour to seek avenues for redress at the soon to be established census tribunals.
Commenting on some of the most difficult challenges that faced the conduct of the census, Makama said processing of procurement for materials and modalities for payment of census workers posed real problems to the commission. He suggested that future handlers of the census project should rather solicit from donors supply of materials instead of direct funding to check delays caused by lapses in procurement of census materials.
The 2006 National Population and Housing Census commenced nationwide February 20 this year. It was expected to end February 20 but was extended by two days.
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