Face of Agulu

Nigeria’s census has always been tricky,

By Marlikberry,

Demographic data are important for national development. They are useful in sectoral planning and should influence the direction of government priorities in Nigeria.

A youthful population like Nigeria requires accurate information on characteristics like the age and sex of the population and how they are distributed spatially. This is the basis of policy and planning for education, employment and health systems.

Demographic data usually come from four main sources: population censuses; specialized surveys (on health topics, for example); registration systems for vital events including births and deaths; and government’s administrative records. Census data provide the bedrock for other sources to people.

The quality and reliability of a nation’s demographic information is partly a reflection of the quality of the census.

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