News
Nigeria ‘ll soon get accurate headcount as Tinubu sets up Census Committee
Nigeria took a step closer on Monday to conducting a new national population and housing census with biometric and digital components. The nation last held a census in November 2006.
President Bola Tinubu, at a meeting at the State House with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), said he would set up a committee to align the census budget to the government’s present financial realities.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement made available to TheIdeal News on Monday.
The President further said that the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) must be part of the review.
He said, “We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty. So many problems come up without accurate data”
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring accurate and reliable figures from the national census to strengthen development planning and improve Nigerians’ living conditions through more efficient social security.
The National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, and some other members briefed the President.
Tinubu also noted that government incentives, such as the sale and distribution of fertilisers, could be easily improved with more reliable data and demographics.
The President told the delegation that biometric capturing should be central to the process, with multiple identification features, including facial and voice recognition.
He said, “We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a definite path. I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the census data would be central to future planning and resource distribution.
Bagudu said, “At a retreat for the ministers in 2023, Mr President, you reiterated your commitment to the census, so there is no doubt about your desire and commitment to have the census. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me what the problem was, and I told you it was simply an issue of lack of ability to fund the census.
“Even today, before this meeting, I called the NPC Chairman and restated your commitment to the census. However, the commission and all of us in the team need to agree on the minimum amount we can source to support Mr President in making the final decision.
“The NPC indicated that 40 per cent of the funding for the 2006 census came from development partners.”
Bagudu noted that the enumeration done by NPC so far has been helpful.
He said, “Mr President, we have been having ecosystem meetings to link the identity agencies, even the geo-spatial chaired by the ministry, because of our mandate as the supervising ministry of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). So the NPC, NBS, NIMC, Ministry Of Digital Economy, passport, social register, voters register, and even telecoms data have been meeting with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to see how much is available to the government regarding data and how much optimisation can take place.”
In his presentation, the NPC chairman Kwarra said the last census took place in 2006, and 19 years later, the figures were no longer relevant in planning, particularly for key sectors that directly impact the population.
He said 760,000 tablets had been acquired and stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assuring the commission would engage with development partners to seek support whenever President Tinubu proclaimed the new census.
…says his second edition should reflect more realities by mentioning names
By Emmanuel Agaji
The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said he is grateful to God that former President Ibrahim Babangida’s book has corrected the wrong impression of an Igbo coup in 1966.
Naijablitznews reports Senator Kalu made this assertion while addressing the press before entering the Senate Chamber on Tuesday morning.
He explained that:” I am happy that the wrong impression created that the 1966 coup an Igbo coup has been corrected that it was a Nigerian coup gladdens my heart.
“Though we the Igbos were made to bear the brunt but thank God the impression has been erased finally.
The former Senate Chief Whip however appealed to his master (IBB) to quickly come out with a second edition as this first edition did not capture some realities.
“In the second edition he should vividly mention names like Professor Humphrey Nwosu and other people who played prominent roles on June 12 issue.
“You know IBB is my master, I will soon go and visit him and formally inform him.
Watch video below:
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Mr Nuhu Ribadu has countered former governor of Kaduna state, Mr Nasr El-Rufai over his unsavoury comments declaring that he would help his principal, Bola Tinubu succeed.
He said in a statement that he has not discussed contesting in 2031 with anyone.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr El-Rufai on Monday accused Mr Ribadu of being behind his ordeal with anti-graft agencies. He alleged that Mr Ribadu was doing so because he is interested in succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2031.
In his response, Mr Ribadu said in a statement that he has not discussed contesting in 2031 with anyone.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration,” he said.
Messrs Ribadu and El-Rufai were friends and allies during the Obasanjo administration and that of the late Umar Yar’Adua. However, both men have become political adversaries although they are both members of the ruling party, APC.
In his statement, Mr Ribadu alluded to their history.
“If my silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.
“Despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.”
Read the full statement below
I WON’T JOIN ISSUES WITH NASIR EL-RUFAI
My attention has been drawn to the interview granted by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State Monday evening.
If my silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.
Despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.
I however urge the public to disregard El-rufai’s statements against me.
For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration.
I therefore ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me face my onerous national assignment just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Angry Omoyele Sowore, The Publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday clashed with security operatives who wanted to stop him from entering the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The security cordon of the court gate by operatives drawn from Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was emplaced because of the trial of the former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.
Bello is charged with money laundering and misappropriation of public funds.
In a video posted on his X account on Monday, Sowore, singlehanded, dared the security operatives, questioning their authority to prevent his entry.
“Why are you shouting at me? Do I look like Yahaya Bello?” he asked.
“I have business in court. I don’t need to be cleared by either the police or EFCC because none of you is an officer of the court.
“This is a Federal High Court; bring court officials, and I will talk to them. EFCC brought me to court, and they are still harassing us.”
“You have no right to stand in front of the high court. You are not my lawyer and have no right to know my case,” he stated in response to a request by one of the security operatives to know the particulars of his case.
Overwhelmed by Sowore’s readiness to make big trouble and possibly expose the errors by the security operatives, one of the senior officers eventually directed that Sowore be allowed to enter.
Condemning the incident, Sowore wrote, “The justice system in Nigeria has been hijacked by uniformed, uncouth security agents ranging from @OfficialDSSNG, @PoliceNG, and @CivilDefenceNGR. Today, they mounted illegally in front of the court, harassing everybody because of a thief, Yahaya Bello @officialgybkogi. The same Yahaya Bello they couldn’t apprehend for months; even lawyers were harassed, and the @NigBarAssoc should stop this nonsense.”
In January 2025, Sowore was arrested and charged with 17 counts under the Cybercrime Act for referring to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP” on his social media platforms.
In the charges, it was alleged that Sowore’s statements were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order.
Sowore’s arrest sparked criticisms from various human rights organizations, which viewed the charges as an attempt to suppress voice of dissent and freedom of expression.
IBB’s Book: “I thank God the Igbo coup wrong impression has been buried -Senator Kalu(Video)
2031: Ribadu replies El-Rufai, says he’s focused on helping Tinubu’s govt succeed
Angry Sowore slams security operatives at Abuja court gate who tried to block him
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