The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, has called for shifting the March 2023 Population and Housing Census to May.

Mr Agba made the call at the High-Level Partners’ Engagement on the 2023 population and housing census in Abuja on Monday.

He said the shift was to enable the ministry to train more personnel and procure digital equipment required for the census.

The National Population Commission (NPC) had earlier announced that the exercise would be carried out this month.

Mr Agba, however, assured that the census would be digitally conducted, green, transformative and meet international standards.

The minister explained that N889 billion would be required to conduct the census.

According to him, the government has committed N291.5 billion to the census, translating to 46 per cent of total funding.

Mr Agba said there would be a training of 885,000 persons for building numbering and household listing of all buildings in the country for seven days at an average of N12,410 buildings per day.

The minister, however, said a basket fund to be managed by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) would be established to redeem pledges.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Mathias Schmale, stated the UN’s commitment to continue supporting Nigeria, especially in making the 2023 census a success.

Ulla Mueller, Country Representative, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), assured of continuous support and advice.

The executive chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, expressed the determination of the commission to deliver a credible and digital census that would ensure accurate data for national development.

(NAN)