How Realistic is the 10 years’ Compulsory Census Conduction in Nigeria?

The National Population Commission just advocated for the passing to law the act that ensures conducting of a compulsory census every 10 years in Nigeria. This initiative was made by the Acting Director, population Management Mr. Nduka Arinzechukwu during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. In the interview, Mr. Arinzechukwu noted the significant of having the act passed as law. He further explained that the Act when passed to Law will positively be an improvement upon the presidential proclamation which is being practiced.

Adding that when backed by law, the compulsory census would make census constitutionally compulsory like the case of general elections. The Acting Director noted that the last election was conducted 14years back which is not good for adequate data analysis. However, he made it obvious that the National Population Census team are ready to conduct another census but are waiting for the presidential proclamation.  

In the last census

 Mr. Arinzechukwu also solicited for the support of all Nigerians in the upcoming international conference. The Conference will, however, be based on ‘Census and is scheduled for by April 2020. Noting that census play a major part in national planning as well as citizens’ profiling, and that census in Nigeria is long overdue. He reiterated that the unaccounted gap in the conduction of census, has to a great extend reduced the pace of national building by affecting virtually all sectors of the system. However, Mr. Arinzechukwu is showing optimism on the capability of the outcome of the April conference through ideas on census and international interactions.  

Personal View on conducting compulsory Census in Nigeria

I really support the whole concept of the promulgation of the law to enable conducting compulsory census every 10 years in Nigeria. But not without so many lingering questions like;

• It’s not far-fetched that a lot of immigrants just by obtaining age declaration in Nigeria and can work up to the National Identity Management Commission to collect a Nigerian Identity card. So, would these set of people be added while conducting the census?
• Those Places where insurgency is on the increase, what’s the possibility of conducting a proper census in such places?
• How do we really checkmate issues of people giving out false information’s just to indirectly benefit their region?
• Et cetera

How achievable do you think the 10 years’ compulsory census conducting in Nigeria is? And what do you think are the possible challenges these act might be facing?