Civic organisation, Tracka has raised concerns over the lack of accountability surrounding Nigeria’s stalled 2023 national population census, revealing that N129.5 billion was disbursed for the exercise without any published results.
Nigeria last conducted a widely recognised population census in 2006. Nearly two decades later, Africa’s most populous country still does not have updated official data on its population size.
According to findings by Tracka, payments totalling N129.5 billion were made to contractors and service providers between February 2022 and December 2023 for activities related to the planned 2023 census.
This was contained in a press statement by the civil organization.
The exercise was announced and partially mobilised but later suspended without any enumeration results released to the public.
According to Tracka, a breakdown of the disbursements shows that N118.38 billion was spent on personal digital assistants and accessories, N2.47 billion on Hilux vehicles, N499.8 million on power banks, and N106.19 million on an e-recruitment portal.
The organisation said these expenditures raise further questions about procurement priorities and transparency, especially as no census results have been released.
The report emphasised that a credible population census is critical for effective governance as accurate data helps authorities plan for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and resource allocation.
Without updated figures, overcrowding in schools and inadequate healthcare services may persist, as policymakers rely on outdated projections. According to the report, this gap could also impact electoral planning and equitable distribution of resources across the country.
Tracka called for greater accountability and clarity on how the funds were utilised, stressing the need for transparency in public spending.