President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the National Population and Housing Census, which was scheduled for May 2023.
The decision was made after a meeting with members of the Federal Executive Council, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, and his team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
The move has been commended by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who had earlier called for the postponement of the census until adequate security was guaranteed in the country, News About Nigeria gathered.
In a statement by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, Governor Ortom praised the President for “listening to the voice of reason and directing that the 2023 National Population Census be postponed.”
Governor Ortom had argued that conducting the census would amount to injustice and deprivation of millions of Nigerians who had been displaced from their ancestral homes and were living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue State and other parts of the country.
He had also expressed concerns about the criteria for counting individuals in their localities.
With the postponement of the census now approved by President Buhari, Governor Ortom has urged the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerians whose communities have been taken over by bandits and armed herders regain their lands and return home.
He stressed the importance of prioritizing the lives and well-being of the people for the nation to realize its aspiration for greater growth and development.
Governor Ortom reiterates his commitment to the rule of law, justice, fairness, and equity.
