Census has remained a veritable mechanism through which countries around the world garner the data of their citizens for sustainable development.

Constitutionally, Nigeria’s census should be done every 10 years by the National Population Commission (NPC), but it has been difficult to sustain due to the pressures on the economy and lack of political will to follow the timeline. Oftentimes, the government might be avoiding the political, social, ethnic, and religious controversies, as well as the geopolitical mistrust and disputes that have followed headcounts in Nigeria. Since 1866, census exercises have triggered national disagreement and mistrust.

The country has organised a handful of censuses — 1871, 1896, 1901, 1911, 1921, 1952, and 1973. The census in 1973 was never accepted by the government. In 1988, the Federal Government established the National Population Commission.

The fact that Nigeria still does not have effective and reliable census data have repeatedly been bemoaned as being responsible for the country’s policy summersault and under-development.
https://thejournalnigeria.com/national-census-threats-insecurity/

They are mad if they still go ahead to spend billions on census while crying about not being able to pay salaries

Census amidst insurgency and banditry. Well, nothing is impossible here. Census can only be reliable for accurate information if all conditions are favourable.
How many of the educated empty barrels in the country even know the importance of the exercise, especially over religion (for example)?
To the government ba.. àṣejù ni census, INEC results ti wa okay.

If you be enumerator, you go wan participate?

it is necessary