Dr. Aminu Yusuf, the newly appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), has unveiled ambitious plans to deliver a fully credible, technology-driven national census and overhaul Nigeria’s demographic data systems.
Speaking at the NPC headquarters in Abuja after his swearing-in, Yusuf thanked President Tinubu for entrusting him with the role and outlined a Seven-Point Agenda aimed at modernising census methodologies, strengthening birth and vital registration, and improving data-driven national planning and governance.
The agenda includes digitising enumeration areas, deploying biometric verification during population counts, upgrading civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS), modernising migration-tracking systems, and enhancing collaboration with international partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA and health agencies to ensure accuracy and compliance with global standards.
Yusuf also pledged institutional reforms within NPC focusing on enhanced ICT capacity, improved staff welfare, merit-based progression, and stakeholder engagement across federal, state and community levels. According to him, reliable demographic data is critical for informed decision-making in sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, housing, and security.
Observers say the renewed focus on biometric and data-driven census methodology could be a game-changer for Nigeria potentially ending decades of unreliable population figures, disputed allocations, and skewed planning outcomes. The commitment signals a shift toward accountability and data integrity in national governance.
