Akpabio: It’s a National Embarrassment Nigerians Abroad Don’t Know Our Population

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has voiced strong concerns about the lack of accurate population data in Nigeria, calling the situation an embarrassment on a national scale. His remarks came during a courtesy visit by the National Population Commission, as reported by Punch.

Akpabio emphasized the urgent need for a credible national census, describing the conflicting population figures as a serious hindrance to Nigeria’s development. He stressed that relying on outdated or inconsistent statistics is no longer acceptable.

“I do not want to call it a national disgrace, but can I say that it is a national embarrassment that even Nigerians who go outside to represent us in different fora do not know the number of Nigerians,” he said.

According to him, the wide variation in population figures—ranging from 220 million to as high as 300 million—undermines Nigeria’s credibility both at home and abroad. These discrepancies, he argued, create confusion and weaken the country’s planning capabilities.

“It is a national embarrassment,” he reiterated.

Akpabio pointed out that effective national planning relies on reliable demographic data. “If you do not know the number of mouths that you wish to feed, it is impossible to make any kind of serious plans for the future. It is not possible for you to know the exact number of children that you intend to enrol in schools,” he said.

He pledged the full backing of the National Assembly for the commission’s efforts and encouraged them to act swiftly once the presidential proclamation for a census is issued. Akpabio also expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to deliver a thorough and reliable population count.