Politics
Umeh Demands Urgent National Census
…As NPC, UNFPA Launch State of World Population Report 2025
Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, has underscored the need for the Federal Government to expedite action on the conduct of Population and Housing Census, saying that without national census, Nigeria will continue to grope in the dark in her planning and development.
Umeh stated this in Abuja at the launch of the State of the World Population Report 2025.
He pointed out that the conduct of national census is imperative, as it would enable the government to know the exact number of Nigeria’s population, the number of the unemployed, population distribution, among others.
The Senator, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, said national planning and development would be easier with national census.
He said, “Today, nobody knows the actual population of Nigeria. We are just using estimates. Some people say we are 200 million people, others say we are 220 million people, while some others say, we are about 230 people.
“These are projections. And that is why there is no alternative to having a national census.”
He pledged that the National Assembly was irrevocably committed to ensuring that population and housing census is conducted soon.
He called on the members of the National Assembly to resist the urge to legislate the number of children each Nigerian couple should give birth to.
Speaking on the State of the World Population, Umeh explained that it is very difficult to regulate control birth, adding that emphasis should be given on sex education among the adolescent girls to control birth rate.
Also speaking, Chairman, House Committee on National Population and Identity, Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo, said the Constitution Review Committee was considering to include in the Constitution a stipulated time-frame for the conduct of national census in line with the recommendation of the United Nations Population Fund(UNPFA).
In his opening remarks, Nasir Isah Kwarra, Chairman, National Population Commission(NPC), commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for not only its leadership in producing the annual flagship report but also for its steadfast commitment to shaping the global, regional and national agenda on population and development.
Kwarra emphasised that the launch of the global report served as a deep reflection for Nigeria, adding that “It urges us to look beyond the surface of declining or high birth rates and to confront the structural inequalities and unmet needs that shape fertility decisions worldwide.”
According to him, “This report reminds us that the real crisis is not simply whether people are having fewer or more children.
“For us in Nigeria, this question is not theoretical – it is real, it is urgent, and it is deeply personal.
“Every day, millions of women and men across the country face barriers to exercising agency over whether, when, and how many children to have.
“These barriers, ranging from poverty and limited access to quality healthcare, to gender inequality and inadequate data undermine both individual well-being and national development.”
Kwarra, therefore,urged all stakeholders’ government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, faith leaders, the private sector and the media to reflect on the insights of the report presented as well as work collaboratively toward solutions that uphold the rights, health, and well-being of all Nigerians.
The theme of this year’s report is, “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency in a Changing World”
This year’s report highlights the global discourse on reproductive rights and agency, offering critical insights into fertility trends and the socio-economic dynamics shaping them.
Independent.ng
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published the names and personal particulars of presidential candidates who will contest the 2027 general election.
Daily Voice gathered that the list puts the number of presidential candidates at 19, with each candidate accompanied by a nominated running mate.
The publication brings further clarity to the field ahead of the presidential election and places the candidates’ credentials and other personal information before the Nigerian public.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Vice President Kashim Shettima remains his running mate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is his running mate.
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is also on the list. Obi is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The publication also includes the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is fielding Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate. Umaru Babangida is listed as his running mate.
African Action Congress, AAC, has Omoyele Sowore as its presidential candidate, with Haruna Garba Magashi as his running mate.
Other candidates include former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, with Buba Musa as his running mate.
The National Democratic Party, NDP, is represented by Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori, while Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka is listed as her running mate.
The Young Progressives Party, YPP, is fielding Anita Zugwai Chukwu as its presidential candidate, with Egbeola Olawale Mertins as the vice-presidential candidate.
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje is the candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, while Shehu Hussaini is listed as his running mate.
The Boot Party has Sunday Adenuga as its presidential candidate and Usman Turaki Mustapha as his running mate.
Samuel Memeh is contesting under the Democratic Liberty Alliance, DLA, with Alex Balogun as his running mate.
Daniel Danerechukwu Nwanyanwu is the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, presidential candidate. Hassan Khalid is listed as his running mate.
The Labour Party, LP, is fielding Sunday Chibuzor Okereke, with Hajja Bintu Konto as his running mate.
Iken Esther Okereke is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, while Samuel Magdalene Gali is the vice-presidential candidate.
Abbas-Bin Aliyu is contesting under the Action Democratic Party, ADP, with Chinazam Ike as his running mate.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is represented by Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa, while Abubakar Isah is listed as his running mate.
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, is fielding Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, with Usman Mohammed Bugaje as his running mate.
Seyi Makinde is listed as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, with Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his running mate.
The Action Peoples Party, APP, has Kabiru Yusuf as its presidential candidate, with Peace Egobia Ofordile as his running mate.
The publication of the candidates’ details followed the requirement for INEC to make the particulars submitted by political parties and their candidates available for public scrutiny.
The documents contain information such as dates of birth, educational qualifications, occupations and other personal details supplied by the candidates.
The exercise gives political parties, candidates and members of the public an opportunity to examine the information submitted to the electoral commission.
It also provides an important reference point ahead of the commencement of the next stage of the electoral process.
According to INEC, the publication of candidates’ particulars is tied to the provisions of the Electoral Act. Section 29(3) requires the commission to publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates after receiving the relevant nomination documents.
Tinubu is seeking to retain the presidency for the APC after winning the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku is returning to the presidential contest on a different platform after leaving the PDP for the ADC coalition.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, is also returning to the race under the NDC.
Moreover, the information released by INEC contains qualifications ranging from primary and secondary school certificates to university degrees and higher academic qualifications.
For instance, Tinubu’s submitted particulars include a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University.
Shettima submitted records of his primary and secondary education, as well as degrees in agricultural studies, while Atiku’s documents include his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate and a master’s degree in International Relations.
Amaechi also submitted details of his academic background, including his university education and legal qualifications.
Obi’s records include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Kwankwaso’s credentials include a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic and his National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Recall, INEC had earlier fixed the presidential and National Assembly election for February 20, 2027, before subsequent revisions to the electoral timetable.
The commission’s current online election calendar lists January 16, 2027 for the Presidential and House of Assembly election and February 6, 2027 for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
INEC has also urged political parties, candidates and voters to follow the approved timetable and comply with the rules governing the electoral process.
A former House of Representatives aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Danjuma, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Danjuma, popularly known as Garkuwa Babba, was the ADC aspirant for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency and also served as National Chairman of the ADC House of Representatives Aspirants Forum.
He announced his defection after meeting with Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, Naija News understands.
During the meeting, Danjuma declared his support for the APC and pledged to mobilize his political network and grassroots supporters for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said he would support Governor Yahaya’s senatorial ambition, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, and other candidates of the party.
Danjuma said his decision to leave the ADC was largely influenced by Yahaya’s leadership, performance and development record in Gombe State.
He praised the governor for what he described as tangible development across the state, saying his achievements had boosted confidence in the APC and reduced the appeal of opposition parties among voters.
According to him, joining the APC was a deliberate move to support continuity, stability and further development in Gombe State.
Receiving Danjuma, Governor Yahaya welcomed his decision to join the APC, describing the development as a major boost for the party.
The governor assured the new APC member and his supporters of an inclusive and united party, stressing the importance of unity, loyalty and collective effort.
Yahaya said the APC remained open to individuals and groups who shared the vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Gombe State.
He added that Danjuma’s political experience, network and grassroots reach would be valuable to the party.
The governor also urged APC members and stakeholders to remain united, saying the strength of the party depended on its ability to accommodate different interests while working towards the development of Gombe State.
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