Nigeria could have been benefiting from its growing population, but for lack of data that is limiting human development and proper economic planning in the country, experts say.
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The country is growing at 3.25 percent a year, but the lack of accurate population data is preventing it from reaping the dividends that come with a huge population, several economic and policy analysts said at the BusinessDay 2020 Nigeria economic outlook conference.
“There is no country that can grow without empirical evidence,” said Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Acting Chairman, National Population Commission.
With a population currently at 201 million and growing at 3.25 percent annually, Nigeria’s population is largely estimated.
The last time the country had a census was in 2006 when the country reported a population of 180 million.
Salu-Hundeyin said without data, the country would be going nowhere as data are the infrastructure, life and oxygen for any country.
She noted that the current administration under President Buhari is concerned about demographic data and hence is keen on signing the National population policy.
