A NOVEL METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH OF ESTIMATING URBAN POPULATION IN NIGERIA

The primary source of population data in Nigeria is the census despite its inconsistency. Consequently, efforts made to estimate population from such census figures and sometimes vital registration system has proved inadequate because of diverse problems. This study is aimed at developing a technique of population estimation in Nigeria using symptomatic data. The data for this study were collected through survey method, immunization and school enrolment data were collected from the Expanded Programme on Immunization and Ministry of Education, respectively. The average number of people per house or crowding index (CI) for Kabba was combined with immunization and school enrolment to establish a relationship which was subsequently used in regression analysis to estimate population. The results show that the population of Kabba and Kogi State were 70,870 and 4,230,382, respectively. The study recommended that the model can be used for population estimation in Nigeria and in places that have similar population data generation problems.