Nigeria has not conducted a national population census since 2006, this year 2025 makes it 19 years without an official headcount.

This has made it difficult for the government to plan properly for the country’s growth and development.

President Bola Tinubu recently announced plans to set up a committee to tackle the challenges stopping the census.

He said the country needs to know its true population to plan for jobs, agriculture, and other important sectors.

However, Nigeria has a history of controversial censuses. Many past headcounts were rejected due to accusations of inflated figures.

Politicians often manipulate numbers because population size determines how much money states and local governments receive from the federal government.

From 1911 to 1952, Nigeria’s population grew steadily, following global patterns. But after independence, the numbers started rising sharply, raising suspicions of foul play.

Between 1952 and 2006, the population increased by about 360%, a figure many experts find hard to believe.

Without an accurate census, experts warn that Nigeria cannot solve problems like unemployment, insecurity, and poor public services.

The question now is, will President Tinubu be able to deliver a transparent and credible census?