The Federal Government has spent N21bn on mapping the country into enumeration areas ahead of the 2023 census, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said on Thursday.
Osinbajo disclosed this in Abuja at a meeting with partners on the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The meeting themed ‘Supporting a transformational census process in Nigeria,’ was organised by the National Population Commission in collaboration with UNFPA.
Osinbajo, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said the Federal Government had so far approved N198bn in the 2022 Appropriation Act and had released about 60 per cent of the funds for the exercise.
He said “By 2050, Nigeria is projected to have 400 million people; the government must continue to provide quality basic education, nutrition and healthcare for them; improve on security and create more job opportunities for our young people who currently make up more than half of our country’s population.
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“Thus, the work of NPC and its partners is even more crucial at this point—adequate planning, data and structure are vital factors in creating sustainable growth and national development.
“The Federal Government had demonstrated tangible commitment to the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census as evidenced in the provision of funds for the implementation of important preliminary activities.
“Specifically, the Federal Government has spent about N21bn for the mapping of the country into enumeration areas for the census. The government, so far, has now approved the sum of N198bn in the 2022 Appropriation Act of which about 60 per cent has since been released.”
He said that the funds would position the NPC to better conduct the census in April 2023.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
