A statistician, Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, has advised the federal government to adopt alternative census models, rather than the current estimated model, to measure the nation’s population for effective planning and development.
A lecturer at the Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Olubusoye, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
The don said most countries had moved from estimated model and decennial census (conducted every 10 years) to adopting alternative census models.
“A number of alternative census models are now available and these include: The rolling census, register-based census and virtual census which involve the linking of registers to surveys and administrative sources.
“The register-based population census could be a panacea to the challenge of conducting national population census in Nigeria.
“Some of the available administrative registers in Nigeria with potential use for census taking include: voters register which currently has over 70 million people in the database, Tax Identification Number (TIN) register.
“National Identity Management register, Bank Verification Number (BVN) register, National Driving Licensing register and vital registration of births and deaths which National Population Commission (NPC) is mandated to undertake,’’ he said.
“Why is it difficult to link these databases of registers collected by government agencies for the purpose of producing census figures for the country?’’
According to him, the models are even more credible than the traditional headcount.
Olubusoye, however, questioned the estimated population figures recently announced by the Chairman of NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma at a conference in New York.
The NPC has put Nigeria’s current population at 198 million people with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent.