The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, transparent, and internationally acceptable national census, anchored on effective public communication and inter-agency collaboration.

Information minister Mohammed Idris stated this during a courtesy visit by the chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf.

According to him, credible data remains the foundation of national planning, stressing that without accurate population figures, effective development planning becomes impossible.

“I want to reaffirm the commitment of the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to delivering a credible, transparent, and internationally acceptable national census, anchored on effective public communication and inter-agency collaboration.

“I want to assure the NPC that my ministry and its agencies stand fully ready to mobilise Nigerians and drive nationwide advocacy whenever the president proclaims a census date.

“The agencies include the National Orientation Agency, the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, and the News Agency of Nigeria,” Mr Idris said.

The minister emphasised that the Tinubu administration is committed to conducting a census that Nigerians and the international community can trust, adding that the federal government is prioritising process, legality, and credibility over haste.

He reiterated that the presidential proclamation remains the legal basis for conducting the census, assuring that Mr Tinubu is carefully aligning all requirements to ensure the exercise meets global standards.

The minister urged the NPC to continue leveraging government-owned media platforms for sustained public enlightenment, while assuring that his ministry will fully discharge its mandate to advocate government programmes and policies in the national interest.

Mr Yusuf commended the Ministry of Information and National Orientation for its consistent support and leadership in public mobilisation efforts ahead of the postponed census.

He said the commission remains operationally ready, with systems, logistics, ICT infrastructure, and personnel continuously refined to guarantee efficiency, transparency, and credibility once a new census date is announced.

Mr Yusuf also sought sustained access to government media platforms to deepen public understanding of census participation, civil registration, and vital statistics, describing public trust as central to the success of population management in Nigeria.

(NAN)