Proffering an apposite technique of census enumeration in Nigeria: the need for grassroots consultations

Chinyere C. P. Nnorom, University of Lagos

Ever since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has employed and switched between two major methods of census enumeration namely - de jure and de facto for its census exercises. The aftermath of each exercise has been marked by allegations based on manipulations by the various sectors. In-depth interviews were conducted to solicit information from societal members about census issues in Nigeria. What do stakeholders put forward? What measures should be put in place by government at ensuring reliable census results? These are what the paper explores. The interviews reveal that grassroots consultations will provide the needed solution to the census problem. In line with the findings, the paper proposes that if Nigeria must have a reliable, dependable and an accurate population count, consultations at the grassroots – as proposed by the stakeholders interviewed - may be an acceptable method of determining which way to go about census enumeration in Nigeria.