Reactions may have trailed the planned 2016 census which is expected to cost over 15 billion Naira, but the essence of the exercise may be well over rated than the cost of it.

The immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says data is key for Nigeria’s development.

The former Lagos Governor was speaking on Tuesday at a presentation of three books about his administration, written by his former special adviser on media, Mr Hakeem Bello.

Mr Fashola stressed that for governance to be focused and purposeful, leaders must have accurate population and data of the people so as to give needed services

“In all of our lives’ experience, I don’t think that we can fairly say that we have recorded an accurate data of the number of people that we are.

“And for the people who did our first census now credited with owning up that the figures were falsified, the onus is upon us to get it right in 2016.

“I say this because, data in my view is important. If the work of government is to provide service to people, its efficiency will be determined by its knowledge of how many people need service.

“Without accurate census figures, it may seem that we are not determined to head in the part of development,” Fashola emphasised.

The former Lagos State Governor further stressed that “census was not about where the individual come from but where he lives”.