Periodic census essential for effective governance, Says NPC boss

Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has emphasized the need for periodic national census, stating that these are essential for generating comprehensive and inclusive data, which is crucial for effective planning and sustainable development.

Kwarra stated this in his address at the 2024 World Population Day (WPD) commemoration held at the State House Conference Hall in Abuja, with the theme โ€œEmbracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All.โ€

Hon. Kwarra He pointed out that Nigeriaโ€™s last census, conducted 18 years ago, has left a significant gap in reliable data, impeding the formulation of evidence-based policies and the evaluation of governance quality.

Hon. Kwarra reiterated the themeโ€™s relevance, emphasizing the need for inclusive data to support national development. He called for Nigeria and other African nations to prioritize regular censuses and surveys to produce timely, credible, reliable, and comprehensive data. โ€œData must be well-disaggregated, geo-referenced, and inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind,โ€ he asserted, stressing that such data is vital for development planning, enhancing resilience, and ensuring an equitable future for all.

In his keynote address Dr. Sunday A. Adedini of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti highlighted the critical role of inclusive data in achieving socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Dr. Adedini raised concerns about Nigeriaโ€™s outdated and inadequate data systems, noting that the most recent census data is 18 years old, calling for immediate action to conduct a new census to provide accurate and up-to-date information.

โ€œOur most current population data is based on projections from the 2006 census,โ€ he stated,

โ€œNigeria, with an estimated population of 218 million, stands as the most populous country in Africa and ranks sixth globally. This demographic scenario presents both challenges and opportunities,โ€ Dr. Adedini remarked.

He attributed irregular conduct of censuses in Nigeria to factors such as the politicization of the process, insufficient political will, and inadequate financing, stressing that effective planning and implementation of the governmentโ€™s 8-Point Socio-economic Agenda require timely and reliable data.

โ€œInadequacy of data is a significant impediment to progress across various sectors, including education, healthcare, economic planning, and security,โ€ he said.

In his message to commemorate the day the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, highlighted the persistent and glaring inequalities that undermine progress. He expressed outrage that, in the 21st century, approximately 800 women still die needlessly every day due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, with the vast majority of these deaths occurring in developing countries. Additionally, he noted that legislative advances in combating female genital mutilation are at risk of being reversed in some regions.

He emphasized the urgency of accelerating efforts and investments to fulfill the promises of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the ICPD, and Guterres called for renewed commitment to its core principles, particularly the importance of womenโ€™s sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental to sustainable development.

Guterres acknowledged the significant strides made since the ICPDโ€™s adoption. More women now have access to modern contraception, and maternal deaths have decreased by thirty-four percent since 2000. He credited womenโ€™s movements and civil society organizations for their critical role in driving these positive changes.

โ€œBut progress has been unequal and unsteady. It is outrageous that well into the 21st century, around 800 women die needlessly every day in pregnancy and childbirth โ€“ the vast majority in developing countries. And in some places, legislative advances in tackling vital issues such as female genital mutilation risk going into reverse.

โ€œAs the theme of this yearโ€™s World Population Day reminds us, investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress. So is finance. I urge countries to make the most of the Summit of the Future this year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable development,โ€ he said.

Similarly, the UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem emphasized the importance of counting every individual to foster progress, end inequality, and promote peace and prosperity. Addressing global leaders and citizens, Dr. Kanem highlighted the theme โ€œTo leave no one behind, count everyone,โ€ underscoring the necessity of inclusive data for achieving these goals.

โ€œTo go uncounted is to be made invisible and, as a result, left unserved,โ€ Dr. Kanem stated. She illustrated the dire consequences of being uncounted, such as a 10-year-old girl without healthcare during conflict, an older woman with a disability lacking a safety net in crisis, and a newborn in a remote community without birth registration.

Reflecting on the progress since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, Dr. Kanem noted significant strides in population data gathering, analysis, and use. She highlighted that two-thirds of countries now include questions on disability in their censuses, improving healthcare delivery and advancing sexual and reproductive health rights. New technologies, she said, are enabling more detailed and timely measurements of peopleโ€™s experiences.