Nigeria set to hold its first census in 17years.

Nigeria will hold its first census in 17 years in May, the information minister announced on Wednesday, citing the delay in the gubernatorial election.
The census of Africa’s most populous country was originally scheduled for March 29.

The election of new governors has been pushed back a week to March 18.

“I believe that due to the postponement of the elections, they [the National Population Commission] cannot start the census as planned,” Minister Lai Mohammed told reporters.

Census results determine the distribution of oil revenues and political representation.

The country’s population is estimated to be over 200 million. It is expected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050, according to the UN.