NPC IDENTIFIED 3.7 MILLION BUILDINGS IN BENUE STATE

In a significant revelation, the National Population Commission (NPC) reported that Benue State had 3.7 million buildings as of 2022 when the Commission concluded the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise in all 774 LGAs in preparation for the upcoming Population and Housing Census. The data include residential, non-residential and institutional buildings in the State.

This announcement came on 11th February 2025, during a strategic meeting at the NPC Headquarters in Abuja, where Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, fnsa, the NPC Chairman, received in audience the Statistician-General/CEO of the Benue State Bureau of Statistics (BSBS), Mr. Kumafan Dzaan, along with key figures from the State’s geographic and digital infrastructure agencies.

During the meeting, the NPC Chairman, Hon. Kwarra disclosed that the EAD exercise successfully captured geo-coordinates for every building in Nigeria, demonstrating the NPC's commitment to providing detailed, verifiable and actionable data for census purpose and development planning of the country.

Hon. Kwarra emphasized the importance of conducting the next census to not only update geospatial data but also to gather comprehensive household and demographic information. "Sharing complete data with the BSBS is crucial, and we are ready to collaborate with interested agencies and individuals," he stated.

Barr. Mrs. Patricia Iyanya Kupchi, the NPC Federal Commissioner for Benue State, called on the Benue State government to support and enhance collaboration with the NPC, especially at the state-level to facilitate the provision of vital data for planning and development in the state.

Earlier, Statistician-General of Benue State, Mr. Kumafan Dzaan expressed gratitude for the NPC's efforts in generating comprehensive geospatial data, noting that the data they sought for evidence-based planning in Benue is now readily available. "The insights from this data will guide our future initiatives," he remarked.

Mr. Dzaan noted that Benue State Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, has requested housing data from the NPC to inform planning and policymaking in the State.

In a show of support, Mr. Gbande Terwasa, Managing Director of the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company, praised the NPC's achievements in digital data collection, stating, "The solution to our quest lies with the NPC."

Prof. Daniel Amine, Director-General of the Benue Geographic Information System (BENGIS), echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of the newly acquired information on the total number of buildings in Benue State, which he has sought since taking office.

The meeting concluded with Mrs. Nkechi Odeh, Director of Cartography, advocating for a broader collaboration that extends beyond housing data. She underscored the potential for joint efforts to enhance data accuracy and staff capacity within state agencies.

As Benue State gears up for future planning and development, the NPC's comprehensive housing data emerges as a vital resource for evidence-based decision-making.