Bagudu Stresses Need For Credible Population Data

Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has called for intentional and systematic management of the country’s human and natural resources, warning that sustainable national development is impossible without reliable population data to guide planning and policy.

The minister made the remarks over the weekend during a familiarisation visit by the newly appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, who led a high-level delegation of federal commissioners and senior officials to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

“If we truly want to solve Nigeria’s problems, we must be deliberate about understanding and organising our resources, especially our people,” Bagudu declared, underscoring that no meaningful development agenda can be executed without a firm grasp of where Nigerians live, how they live, and what opportunities exist in their communities.

Congratulating Dr Yusuf on his appointment, Bagudu assured the commission of the federal government’s full backing. He stated that the President Bola Tinubu administration recognises the strategic importance of credible demographic data in confronting Nigeria’s development challenges and in shaping effective public policy.

Population as a Development Asset
Bagudu framed Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population not as a burden, but as a significant development opportunity — provided it is managed effectively.

Drawing comparisons with economic powerhouses China and India, he argued that large populations can become powerful engines of economic growth when backed by sound planning and strong institutions.

The minister stressed that demographic and spatial data are indispensable tools for identifying economic opportunities spread across Nigeria’s diverse communities.

He noted that such data could support the government’s drive for decentralised development, empowering every ward, local government area, and state to identify and leverage its comparative advantages.

“There is no community in Nigeria without potential,” the minister affirmed, noting that some communities hold agricultural strengths, others mineral wealth, and many serve as vital commercial hubs — all requiring accurate data to be fully realised.

Bagudu also emphasised that credible population data plays a critical role in reinforcing trust and fairness within Nigeria’s federal structure.

He described reliable demographic figures as a transparent foundation for planning and resource allocation — essential in a country where disputes over resource sharing between the federal, state, and local tiers have historically generated political tension.

On the question of financing a modern national census — a costly and logistically complex undertaking — Bagudu acknowledged the financial pressures facing government but assured that the administration is actively exploring innovative funding mechanisms, including partnerships with international development organisations, to ensure the exercise proceeds successfully.

For his part, NPC chairman said the visit was aimed at deepening cooperation between the commission and the ministry to strengthen Nigeria’s national planning architecture.

He outlined the commission’s constitutional mandate to produce accurate demographic statistics for sustainable development, which encompasses conducting population and housing censuses, coordinating the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, and monitoring the implementation of the National Population Policy.

Yusuf disclosed that the commission is advancing plans to establish a modern, technology-driven integrated population data management system for Nigeria. This includes preparations for a technology-enabled population and housing census and the expansion and digitalisation of the country’s civil registration infrastructure — to ensure the continuous real-time recording of births and deaths nationwide.

He commended Bagudu for chairing the presidential committee that reviewed the financial and operational framework for the upcoming census, describing the committee’s work as evidence of the federal government’s commitment to conducting the exercise within a transparent and fiscally responsible framework.

Yusuf reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and close collaboration with relevant government institutions in building a robust population data ecosystem for Nigeria — one capable of underpinning the country’s development planning for decades to come.