Country’s population figure is officially 206 million. NPC

Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, has said the nation’s population figure is officially 206 million.

Kwarra broke the news yesterday while addressing reporters in Abuja on the initiation of another Enumeration Area Demarcation.

The NPC boss noted that since Nigeria hadn’t been able to maintain a census in the previous 14 years, it would be tricky to understand the precise population of the nation.

He explained:”In the absence of actual census, we formally do projections and we’ve all along been doing our projections and we estimate as of 2020, the estimated population of Nigeria is 206 million.

Asked when the next population census will occur, Kwarra stated President Muhammadu Buhari had the sole right to declare it.

The NPC manager said he was convinced that the President would do the needful soon, adding that the commission was working on getting him to make the proclamation.

Two months ago, President Buhari had accepted N10 billion to the NPC to keep its Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) from 540 local government areas throughout the nation.

The President also approved added N4.5 billion to be contained in the 2021 funding for the end of preparation for the next census.

Announcing the commencement of the EAD, Kwarra said about 260 of the 774 local government areas in the nation was fully demarcated.

The NPC boss stressed the 11th phase of the exercise will begin on December 9, 2020 and finish on January 20, 2011.

He added:”Planning for census is anchored on the EAD for estimating material and human resources required for the census. In essence, the success of a credible and accurate census is dependent very much on the high quality and reliability of the EAD.”

Read also: Concerns grow for Eritrean refugees as Tigray conflict rages