By Danjuma Amodu | January 21, 2026
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering a credible, transparent and internationally acceptable national census, emphasising that effective public communication and inter‑agency collaboration are central to its success.
Speaking on Wednesday while receiving the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, and his management team on a courtesy visit, Idris stressed that reliable data forms the foundation of national planning. “Without accurate population figures, effective development planning becomes impossible,” he said, adding that the Ministry and its agencies—including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) are fully prepared to mobilise Nigerians and drive nationwide advocacy once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu proclaims a census date.
The Minister underlined that the Tinubu administration is committed to a census that both Nigerians and the international community can trust, prioritising process, legality and credibility over haste. He noted that the presidential proclamation remains the legal basis for the exercise and assured that all requirements are being carefully aligned to meet global standards.
Idris urged the NPC to continue leveraging government‑owned media platforms for sustained public enlightenment, promising that the Ministry will fully discharge its mandate of advocating government programmes and policies in the national interest.
Earlier, Dr Yusuf commended the Ministry for its consistent support and leadership in public mobilisation ahead of the postponed census. He said the Commission remains operationally ready, with systems, logistics, ICT infrastructure and personnel continuously refined to guarantee efficiency, transparency and credibility once a new date is announced. He also called for sustained access to government media channels to deepen public understanding of census participation, civil registration and vital statistics, describing public trust as central to successful population management in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s most recent national census took place in 2006, when the National Population Commission recorded a population of about 140 million. Since then, no full census has been conducted, and current figures are based on estimates.
As of early 2026, United Nations‑based projections place Nigeria’s population at roughly 240 million (approximately 239.8 – 240.1 million).
