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 ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - It's considered bad luck to ask a Yoruba how many children the family has. Asking a herdsman about his cows or camels likely will get you shown the door. And what is a male census worker to do when Muslim women are home alone?
Nearly a million census officials are trying to count heads in Africa's most populous nation, estimated to number anywhere from 120 million to 160 million. The sprawling country has a plethora of social and other taboos, and its 250 tribes speak as many languages — just some of the obstacles that have stymied previous attempts at an accurate count.
That's not to mention the logistical challenges of simply reaching citizens.
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