LEDC Data Collection - Nigeria

Question 1

When did Nigeria achieve independence?

Answer 1

Independence from Britain 1961

Question 2

Issues

Answer 2

Nobody knows how many people live in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, about 70% of children born annually in Nigeria are not registered at birth – makes it difficult to verify information on census forms. Nigeria’s census since independence have been deemed unreliable and have experienced a myriad of problems.

Question 3

Ethnic and religious issues

Answer 3

• There are 250 linguistic groupings

- Religion can cause issues – in the Muslim North enumerator were only allowed to interview the head of the house

Question 4

Distribution of Natural resources and wealth

Answer 4

-Oil is the main resource base – produced in the south, controlled by the north. Census results largely determine the distribution of public funding and power between states

Question 5

Falsification of results and corruption

Answer 5

• E.g. 1991 census – some states showed every household in state having exactly the number of members as the census form provided lines. Corrupt officials collect money for census activities but don’t even visit some town and villages – they just make the number up
• 2006 (even before census conducted) highly placed individuals in central regions had already determined the population to the exact decimal point.

Question 6

Cost of the census

Answer 6

-Very expensive cost of 2016 census predicted to be £640 million – too high even for a potentially rich LEDC

Question 7

High levels of Illiteracy

Answer 7

• Many illiterate citizens in Nigeria – affects the population adversely – people tend to avoid contact with officials conducting census. Some believe the state conducts census to raise taxes.
• A media campaign has been conducted to engage the people in the importance of collecting accurate information

Question 8

Obsolete infrastructure in some areas

Answer 8

-Hindrance to an effective population census. Poorly maintained roads make it difficult for census officials to access remote towns and villages. Often, in the past, they have just given up

Question 9

Insufficient qualification of census specialists

Answer 9

-Lack of training and lack of specialists with necessary level of qualifications – low quality and inaccurate figures

Question 10

Unreliable demographic maps

Answer 10

• Outdated inaccurate demographic maps – difficult for authorities to take in all remote settlements.
• 2006 census – 45,000 nomadic people thought to have been left out – not included in official census map

Question 11

Other issues

Answer 11

Inadequate preparation for censuses can be a problem. In 2006 census, people were ordered to stay at home on day appointed for count in their area. However, there were insufficient forms and income areas.

Question 12

Most Reliable source of information on population in Nigeria comes from?

Answer 12

Geopolis, an organisation provides population estimates using satellite imagery.