A former Military Governor of Kaduna State retired has described the plans by the federal government to conduct a national census in 2023 as shocking.
The statement said: “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to seek and get the approval of the National Council of State to conduct National census in April 2023 must have come as a great shock to most well-meaning Nigerians.
“A country that is facing existential challenges such as unprecedented level of insecurity, the collapsing economy cannot have as one of its priorities the conduct of a National census.
“We, therefore, urge the Buhari administration to suspend what will amount to misadventure and waste of scarce national resources.
“This Administration should focus all its attention on securing the nation and conducting the 2023elections.
“A National census at this point is certainly not a priority assuming that its conduct is possible.”
Briefing State House Correspondents after the Council of State meeting, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State said the census will take place after 16 years.
Governor Badaru said this was part of the resolutions reached at the Council of State meeting in Abuja on Thursday.