The National Population Commission (NPC) has disclosed that Nigeria’s population growth rate is at 3.2 percent based on an estimated population of 216 million.
Ejike Eze, NPC federal commissioner representing Enugu, made this revelation during a lecture organised by the commission and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, on Wednesday, July 5.
Eze noted that as Nigeria is now among the fastest growing populations in the world, it requires regular conduct of census to enable adequate planning of development programmes.
He regretted that Nigeria’s inability to conduct a population census for over a decade has created an information vacuum.
The commissioner said: “This is because the data from the last census in 2006 has been rendered less useful for planning purposes.”
He went ahead to reveal that the preparations for the 2023 national census had reached an advanced stage with the demarcation of the existing 774 local government areas.
Giving his lecture, Eze explained: “There is also the need to ensure the implementation of poverty alleviations programmes drive by current data obtained from the 2023 census.
“This will improve the implementation of these programmes that target vulnerable population and ensure that “no one is left behind.”
