The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, on Tuesday officially concluded his five-year tenure and handed over the leadership of the Commission to the Federal Commissioner representing Niger State, Muhammad Dattijo.
Dattijo will serve as Acting Chairman pending the swearing-in of Aminu Yusuf by President Bola Tinubu.
The brief but symbolic handover ceremony, held at the NPC Headquarters in Abuja, was attended by Federal Commissioners, the Director-General, Directors, and staff of the Commission.
According to a statement released by the Commission on Wednesday, Kwarra expressed gratitude to his colleagues and subordinates for their support and professionalism during his tenure. He highlighted the Commission’s achievements in strengthening data systems, digitising the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) process, and advancing preparations for the long-awaited National Population and Housing Census.
“The strides recorded under my leadership were made possible through collective commitment and teamwork,” Kwarra noted in his farewell message.
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The ceremony featured the signing of official handover notes, the presentation of a parting gift, and a group photograph in his honour.
Appointed in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Kwarra led the Commission through a pivotal period marked by preparations for Nigeria’s first national census in nearly two decades. The last census was conducted in 2006, making the forthcoming exercise a top national priority.
Under his leadership, the NPC implemented digital mapping and enumeration area demarcation — significant steps towards modernising census operations and enhancing data accuracy. However, the 2023 census, initially scheduled for last year, was postponed due to the government transition.
With Dattijo now at the helm in an acting capacity, the Commission is expected to sustain its ongoing initiatives while awaiting the formal assumption of office by the incoming Chairman, Hon. Aminu Yusuf.
The new leadership faces the crucial task of steering the Commission toward completing Nigeria’s long-delayed census — a cornerstone for evidence-based planning and equitable development.
