#NPC: How we prepared for the census and spent N200 billion in eight years (Details)

The National Population Commission (NPC) claims that it prepared for the "indefinitely postponed" national census with N200 billion over eight years.

The census was supposed to be conducted nationwide between May 3 and 5, but former President Muhammadu Buhari authorized an indefinite postponement.

The new administration, according to Lai Mohammed, the former minister of information and culture, would set a date for the exercise.

The manner in which the commission spent the aforementioned sum has raised questions.

Isiaka Yahaya, the director of public affairs for the NPC, said in a statement on Friday that the commission started spending the money in 2014, when the preparations for the census started.

According to Yahaya, the outcomes of the preparatory activities are already paying dividends that are significantly greater than the N200 billion that have been spent thus far.

He said;

“It has become necessary to set the records straight and put into proper context the expenditure of N200 billion by the national population commission in preparation for the 2023 census.”

“Yes, it is true that N200 billion has been spent on preparations for the 2023 census so far. However, this fund was not expended in the last few weeks, months or years but rather since 2014 when preparations for the 2023 census actually began.

“Indeed, part of the N200 billion was expended before the coming of the present commission, which was inaugurated twice between 2018 and 2020 and even before the inception of the Buhari administration.

“The monetary value of this data alone runs into trillions of naira. This has also provided enumeration area frames that can be used for future censuses and surveys.

“Through the recruitment exercise for the census, the commission has generated a database of young persons who applied for the census jobs with information on their names, ages, qualifications, addresses, phone numbers and account numbers.”

The director said the “skewed media narratives” behind the N200 billion expended in preparation for the forthcoming census is an attempt to divert attention from the “great work” the commission has done so far.