Politics of Population Census in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

Student: Oluwatosin Tracy Titus (Project, 2025)
Department of History and International Studies
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State

Abstract

ABSTRACTThere has not been a successful head-count n Nigeria. Attempts have been made to know how many Nigerians are even before the counting achieve independence on the first of October 1960. But then and thereafter, the whole exercise has been marred by political inclinations. The nation has come to suffer at the hands of politicians and manipulators who are bent on seeing a section of the country highly rated than the others. Any attempt to reflect this fact, will still blink the hope of the future, but it is subjected here that the people should be re-oriented not only at the national level, but also at the State and local government levels, to see the need lor sound population figures.The role which the 1963 Census played in ending the civil war, should not be allowed to repeat itself, though the 1973 Census result was rejected, its impact in the Nigerian polity should not equally be thrown aside. The souths have cried voices hoarse on this issue of revenue sharing formular. They argue that, the revenue sustaining the country is derived from the south (oil), why then should the bulk of the money go to the section that produces little or nothing. For Lago& State to be receiving less revenue than Kano and so many other States in the country is totally unacceptable.

Keywords
abstractthere successful headcount nigeria attempts nigerians before counting achieve independence
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