Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has highlighted the critical role of reliable population data in achieving sustainable national development.

Bagudu made the remark while receiving the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Aminu Yusuf, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja over the weekend.

The minister congratulated Yusuf on his appointment and assured the commission of the Federal Government’s full support. He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognises the importance of credible population statistics in tackling the country’s development challenges and shaping effective public policies.

According to Bagudu, dependable demographic information is essential for national planning, equitable distribution of resources and the formulation of policies that respond to the needs of citizens.

“If we truly want to address Nigeria’s challenges, we must be deliberate in understanding and organising our resources, especially our population,” the minister said.

He explained that meaningful development cannot take place without accurate knowledge of the country’s population, including where people live, their living conditions and the opportunities available in their communities.

Bagudu further observed that Nigeria’s growing population could become a major development advantage if properly managed. Drawing comparisons with countries such as China and India, he noted that large populations can drive economic growth when supported by effective planning and strong institutions.

The minister also stressed the value of demographic and spatial data in identifying economic opportunities across the country. According to him, such information can assist government efforts to promote decentralised development by enabling wards, local governments and states to identify and harness their comparative advantages.

“There is no community in Nigeria without potential,” Bagudu said, adding that while some areas may have strong agricultural capacity, others possess mineral resources or function as key commercial centres.

He also emphasised that credible population data is important for promoting trust and fairness within Nigeria’s federal system, as it provides a transparent basis for development planning and resource allocation.

While acknowledging the financial demands of conducting a modern national census, Bagudu assured that the Federal Government is exploring innovative funding options, including partnerships with development organisations, to ensure the successful execution of the exercise.

In his response, NPC Chairman Aminu Yusuf explained that the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the commission and the ministry to improve Nigeria’s national planning structure.

He noted that the NPC is constitutionally mandated to generate accurate demographic data to support national planning and sustainable development.

According to Yusuf, the commission conducts population and housing censuses, coordinates the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, produces demographic statistics for policymaking and monitors the implementation of the National Population Policy for Sustainable Development.

He revealed that the commission is currently working on plans to establish a modern, technology-driven and integrated population data management system for Nigeria.

This initiative, he said, includes preparations for a credible, technology-enabled population and housing census as well as the expansion and digitalisation of the country’s civil registration system to ensure continuous recording of births and deaths.

Yusuf also commended Bagudu for chairing the presidential committee responsible for reviewing the financial and operational framework for the forthcoming national census.

According to him, the committee’s work reflects the federal government’s commitment to conducting the census in a transparent and financially sustainable manner.

He added that accurate population statistics are vital for development planning, effective implementation of government programmes and tracking progress towards national development targets.

Yusuf reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to transparency, accountability and collaboration with relevant institutions in strengthening Nigeria’s population data system.