Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N10 billion to the National Population Commission (NPC) for continuation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in the remaining 546 Local Government Areas of the country.
Buhari also approved an additional N4.5 billon to be included in the 2021 Budget for completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census.
Acting Chairman of NPC, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, disclosed these in Abuja while briefing reporters on the release of the funds and the update on the EAD at the NPC headquarters.
Oyetunji said: “The President has graciously followed this up by a further approval of an additional N45 billion to be included in the 2021 Budget for the completion of the exercise as part of preparations for the next census.
“No doubt, this milestone development, under-scores the President’s understanding of the role of data, especially demographic data as the bedrock for informed development planning and allocation of resources, facilities and services.
“The President has by this giant intervention demonstrated his desire to invest in the population, especially our teeming youthful population and to thereby lead the country to harness the demographic dividend.”
“I can tell you that we are very close to the conduct of the census.