Accurate Data Key to Nigeria’s Progress, Says Minister Bagudu
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government says that having the right facts and figures about Nigerians is the only way to plan the country’s future, share resources fairly, and create laws that truly help the people.
This was the message from the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, when he received the leadership of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Abuja.
Senator Bagudu explained that for Nigeria to move forward, the government must be intentional about how it manages its people and wealth.
He noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu knows that without honest and clear population numbers, it will be hard to fix the country’s problems.
“If we truly want to solve Nigeria’s problems, we must be deliberate about understanding and organising our resources, especially our people,” the Minister said.
The Minister pointed out that real progress cannot happen if the government does not know where people live, how they survive, or what they need in their various villages and towns.
According to him, Nigeria’s large and growing population is not a problem but a great chance for the country to become a world leader, just like China and India did by using their large populations to grow their economies.
Senator Bagudu said that every part of Nigeria has something special to offer. He explained that having the right data helps the government see where one community has good farmland, where another has solid minerals, or where a third serves as a busy market center.
“There is no community in Nigeria without potential,” Bagudu said. He added that when there is honest data, it builds trust and makes sure no state or local government feels cheated when the government is sharing money or projects.
Regarding the costs of a national census, the Minister admitted it is expensive, but he said the government is looking for creative ways to pay for it. He mentioned that they are talking with international partners to make sure the head count happens successfully.
The Chairman of the NPC, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, said his team visited the Ministry to make sure both offices work closely together. He reminded the public that it is the job of the Commission to provide the right numbers for national planning.
Dr. Yusuf said the NPC is working hard to build a modern system that uses new technology to keep records. This includes not just the big census, but also making sure every birth and death in Nigeria is recorded digitally as it happens.
The NPC boss thanked the Minister for his leadership in reviewing the money and plans needed for the next census. He said this shows that the government is serious about doing a head count that everyone can believe in. Dr. Yusuf promised that the Commission will be open and honest in its work to give Nigeria a data system that works for everyone.
