Recently, an 8-man committee on the National Population Census was inaugurated, and strikingly, 5 out of the 8 members are from the South West—President Tinubu’s own region.
Here’s the breakdown of the committee members:
1) Alhaji Atiku Bagudu – Chairman (North West)
2) Alhaji Idris Malagi – Member (North Central)
3) Mr. Oyinade – Member (South West)
4) Mr. Wale Edun – Member (South West)
5) Mr. Zacch Adedeji – Member (South West)
6) Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote – Member (South West)
7) Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola – Member (South West)
8) Alhaji Kwarra – Secretary (North Central)
The Geo-political representation:
a) South West – 5 members
b) North Central – 2 members
c) North West – 1 member
d) South East – 0
e) South South – 0
f) North East – 0
The composition of Nigeria’s newly inaugurated 8-man committee for the National Population Census has ignited justifiable outrage over the glaring exclusion of entire regions, particularly the Southeast (home to the Igbo people), the South-South, and the Northeast. With five members from the South-West (President Tinubu’s geopolitical zone), two from the North-Central, and one from the North-West, the committee’s regional imbalance raises urgent questions about equity, inclusion, and the administration’s commitment to national unity. This brazen marginalisation of Ndigbo and others is not merely an oversight—it is a dangerous reinforcement of historical grievances that threaten Nigeria’s fragile cohesion.
A Census Committee Without National Character
A national census is the bedrock of governance, shaping resource allocation, political representation, and development planning. For such a critical exercise to proceed without input from three of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—regions collectively representing over half of the population—undermines the legitimacy of the process. The Southeast, which has long decried systemic marginalisation, is once again erased from decision-making tables. The South-South, despite contributing the bulk of Nigeria’s oil wealth, is similarly silenced. Meanwhile, the Northeast, still reeling from insurgency and displacement, is denied a voice in a process vital to its recovery.
This lopsidedness mirrors patterns of exclusion under the Tinubu administration. From key security appointments to economic advisory roles, the Southeast and other regions have been conspicuously absent. Such exclusion fuels perceptions of a tribalistic agenda, alienating communities already sceptical of federal power structures. For Ndigbo, whose historical trauma of post-civil war marginalisation remains unresolved, this latest snub is a painful reminder of their second-class status in Nigeria’s political calculus.
Why This Matters: Trust, Credibility, and National Unity
A census lacking inclusive participation risks being viewed as a tool of exclusion rather than a neutral exercise. Communities omitted from the planning process may distrust the results, rejecting them as politically weaponised to skew representation and resources. For instance, population data influences revenue-sharing formulas, legislative seat allocations, and federal projects. If regions like the Southeast are excluded from shaping the census methodology, how can they trust its outcomes? This scepticism could deepen separatist agitations, emboldening groups like IPOB and undermining efforts to foster dialogue.
Moreover, Nigeria’s unity hinges on equitable representation. When entire zones are sidelined, it sends a message that their interests do not matter. The Tinubu administration’s failure to prioritise inclusivity in such a foundational exercise betrays a troubling indifference to Nigeria’s diversity. It also plays into narratives of “winner-takes-all” politics, where the ruling party’s region monopolises power while others are relegated to spectators.
Historical Echoes and the Danger of Repetition
Nigeria’s history is scarred by crises rooted in exclusion. The 1960s census controversies, which exacerbated regional tensions ahead of the civil war, serve as a grim reminder of how divisive population counts can become. Today, repeating such mistakes amid heightened ethnic polarisation and insecurity is reckless. The Igbo people, still grappling with the legacy of the war and ongoing systemic neglect, are being pushed further to the margins. When combined with economic despair and security failures in the Southeast, this marginalisation risks boiling over into unrest.
A Call for Course Correction
To salvage the census’s credibility and Nigeria’s unity, the Tinubu administration must:
1. Expand the committee to include representatives from all six geopolitical zones immediately.
2. Publicly commit to inclusivity in all national projects, ensuring no region is excluded from decision-making.
3. Address historical grievances through deliberate policies that bridge trust deficits, particularly with the Southeast.
A nation cannot thrive when sections of its citizenry are rendered invisible. The census is more than a headcount—it is a statement of who belongs. By excluding Ndigbo and others, this administration risks writing their exclusion into Nigeria’s future. The time to correct this injustice is now, before the seeds of further division take root.
Meanwhile, this committee has just three weeks to submit its report to the President on a matter as critical as the national population census—an exercise that has historically shaped Nigeria’s national planning, resource allocation, and political representation. If a vital national assignment like the census is handled with such blatant regional imbalance, one must ask: What could be more critical to inclusiveness than a national census?
This glaring exclusion of entire regions exposes the increasingly tribalistic tendencies of President Tinubu’s administration. A truly national exercise requires representation from all six geopolitical zones. With three regions entirely excluded from the decision-making process, the credibility of the census outcome is irreparably compromised.
Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity. To neglect this truth is to court disaster.
NzeIkayMedia
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