The deferral of the 2023 Population and Housing Census has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari made this known after a meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the National Population Commission on Friday night.

He said the earlier scheduled Census which was to hold from May 3-7 will be determined by the incoming administration.

A statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Saturday said, ”In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”

He said Buhari noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of ad hoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress had been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses

Buhari further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate those achievements.