Dattijo will serve as Acting Chairman until President Bola Tinubu formally swears in the incoming substantive Chairman, Aminu Yusuf.
The brief but symbolic handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the NPC Headquarters in Abuja, attended by Federal Commissioners, the Director-General, Directors, and staff of the Commission.
In a statement released by the NPC on Wednesday, Kwarra expressed appreciation to his colleagues and subordinates for their cooperation and dedication throughout his tenure.
He highlighted the Commission’s achievements under his leadership, including strengthening data collection systems, digitising the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, and advancing preparations for the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census.
Kwarra attributed these milestones to the collective commitment and professionalism of the Commission’s management and staff.
The ceremony featured emotional tributes, signing of handover notes, presentation of a farewell gift, and a group photograph to mark the occasion.
Kwarra, appointed in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, led the Commission during a critical period marked by preparations for Nigeria’s first population and housing census in nearly two decades.
The last national census was held in 2006, making the next exercise a significant national priority.
Under Kwarra’s watch, the NPC achieved notable progress in digital mapping and Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), modernising census operations and improving data accuracy.
Although the 2023 census was postponed due to the government transition, expectations remain high that the incoming Chairman, Aminu Yusuf, will steer the Commission toward completing the long-awaited national census, vital for data-driven governance and equitable resource allocation.
