A 2016 Biometric based national population census, would need about N274 billion to be successful.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Eze Duru Iheoma (SAN), who said an initial N10 billion deposit would be needed to kickstart the exercise .
This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari has charged government agencies to harmonize efforts of data collection and usage rather than the continuous replication of biometric data in the country.
Speaking after receiving a briefing on the activities of the National Population Commission from the Chairman, Eze Duru Iheoma (SAN), who led other National Commissioners to the Presidential Villa, the President wondered why each agency would gather its own biometric data, when they could easily share data .
“It will be more cost effective if you work together. It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily,” the President said.
Government organizations that currently collect biometric data include the National Population Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Federal Road Safety Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, among others.
President Buhari also noted that all the agencies should work collaboratively, instead of going in different directions, adding that adequate data was necessary for planning and development in any country.
Eze Duru Iheoma had briefed the President on what will be required for the commission to conduct a national census next year, which marks 10 years after the last exercise, as stipulated by the United Nations.
A national population census, the chairman said, would cost about N273 billion, while about N10 billion of the amount would be needed immediately.
He told the President that a biometric-based census was being proposed because it will eliminate multiple respondents, and ghost respondents, while making the outcome easy to audit.
Elizabeth Archibong
