Climate supporters emphasize how urgent it is to move forward with the census, while the federal government has not yet announced a definitive date. The census has the power to change disaster response, climate policy, and plans for sustainable development. The future of Nigeria rests on its capacity to identify and safeguard its most vulnerable citizens.
Since precise demographic data is necessary to develop sustainable policies, experts have emphasized that Nigeria’s impending national census is critical to tackling the concerns associated with climate change.
Being the first to incorporate biometric technology, the Population and Housing Census will offer vital facts to direct Nigeria’s response to crises brought on by climate change.
The National Population Commission (NPC) claims that the census provides information on the impacts of extreme weather occurrences such as erosion, flooding, and desertification on communities in addition to simply counting people.
It is often known that Nigeria is vulnerable to climate change. The devastating 2022 floods that forced over 1.4 million people to flee their homes are one example of the rise in extreme weather occurrences, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
This emphasizes how important it is to have accurate demographic and geographic data in order to enhance efforts at disaster response and mitigation.
Climate expert and environmental policy analyst, Umar Adamu said, “We no longer live in a predictable climate cycle. Last year’s prolonged rainy season and record-breaking floods disrupted communities nationwide. Without accurate data, we can’t plan effectively for these realities.
“Delays in conducting this census could mean lost opportunities to implement climate resilience strategies backed by data. We need this information to plan for the future, not just react to disasters.”