…Dattijo takes over as Acting Chairman ahead of Tinubu’s appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf
By Joy Odor, Abuja
A quiet but symbolic transition unfolded at the headquarters of the National Population Commission (NPC) on Wednesday as Mr. Nasir Isa Kwarra formally concluded his five-year tenure as Chairman, handing over leadership to the Federal Commissioner representing Niger State, Muhammad Usman Dattijo, who assumes office in an acting capacity.
The handover, held in Abuja, marks the end of a period widely seen as one of the most reform-driven eras in the Commission’s history, one that witnessed sweeping modernization of Nigeria’s demographic data systems and unprecedented digitalization of census operations.
Mr. Kwarra, in his farewell remarks, commended the NPC’s staff, management, and Federal Commissioners for what he described as “unwavering support and professionalism” throughout his tenure.
“Our strides in strengthening data collection systems, digitizing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, and advancing preparations for the National Population and Housing Census were made possible through collective commitment,” he said.
The outgoing Chairman, who led the Commission through the complex pre-census planning phase and transition to digital data capture, described the achievements as “institutional milestones that have positioned the NPC as a data powerhouse for national planning.”
Mr. Dattijo, the incoming Acting Chairman, is expected to sustain the Commission’s ongoing reform agenda until Dr. Aminu Yusuf, newly appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sworn in.
A statement by the Commission affirmed its commitment to maintaining operational momentum during the leadership transition, emphasizing that the NPC’s modernization and census readiness programmes will continue uninterrupted.
The ceremony was marked by warm tributes and emotional farewells as Mr. Kwarra signed official handover notes, received a commemorative gift, and posed for a final group photograph with staff and commissioners, drawing the curtain on what insiders described as a tenure defined by “quiet competence and systemic transformation.”
“Leadership is about continuity,” a senior NPC official noted. “Mr. Kwarra built the foundation; Mr. Dattijo will steady the structure until Dr. Yusuf assumes full charge.”
As the NPC enters a new phase under the Tinubu administration, expectations are high that the incoming leadership will consolidate on reforms and steer the long-awaited National Population and Housing Census to fruition, a task critical to data-driven governance and Nigeria’s development planning.
