The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting a credible, transparent, and internationally acceptable national census, emphasising effective public communication and inter-agency collaboration.
The Minister made the statement in Abuja while receiving the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, who led a management delegation on a courtesy visit.
Minister Idris noted that accurate population data is the foundation of national planning, stressing that without reliable figures, development planning becomes ineffective.
He assured the NPC leadership 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 ready to mobilise Nigerians and drive nationwide advocacy whenever the President announces a census date.
“The Tinubu administration is committed to a census that Nigerians and the international community can trust. We are prioritising process, legality, and credibility over haste,” he said, noting that the presidential proclamation remains the legal basis for the census and that all requirements are being carefully aligned to meet global standards.
Minister Idris urged the NPC to continue leveraging government-owned media platforms for public education, while assuring that the Ministry will fully advocate government programmes and policies in the national interest.
Earlier, Dr. Aminu Yusuf commended the Ministry for its consistent support and leadership in public mobilisation efforts ahead of the postponed census. He said the Commission remains operationally ready, with systems, logistics, ICT infrastructure, and personnel continuously refined to ensure efficiency, transparency, and credibility once a new census date is announced.
Dr. Yusuf also called for sustained access to government media platforms to educate the public on census participation, civil registration, and vital statistics, noting that public trust is central to effective population management in Nigeria.
