The National Population Commission has engaged the residents of Lagos State ahead of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.
The Commission through the National Census Publicity Committee is engaging the people to keep them abreast of the information about the exercise, discuss grey areas and shed light on others.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting to engage critical stakeholders on the exercise, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture Mr Lai Muhammad said that the whole essence of the exercise is to reach out to the people, seek suggestions, as well as asking for partnership for a successful enumeration exercise.
The Minister who was represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr Garba Abari explained that an accurate census would enable the government to plan for the development of numerous infrastructures across the country as well as identify the needs of the people.
He said the exercise is coming at a time when the country is battling with data drought and it becomes imperative to make meaningful contributions towards this challenge.
“Census is about development and Planning for development and it is therefore about the people and it is proper to engage them so that we can seek suggestions from people, ask for partnership where necessary and at the end of the day, we all become census ambassadors who will go back home and relay the information to our people,” he said.
Adequate arrangements
In his address of welcome, the Director General of the National Population Commission NPC, Mr Nasir Kwarra who was represented by the Chairman of the National Census Publicity Committee, Dr Eyitayo Oyetunji assured that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure successful exercise across the country.
He commended Lagos residents for their support during the trial census, stressing that the interactive session is to gauge the feedback from the people, know their expectations and listen to questions about the national headcount.
He, however, urged them to give adequate support during the exercise, which according to him is free of charge, while urging them to remain in their respective places for proper enumeration.
He said: “All of us should remain in Lagos where you reside, to be counted, because the purpose of the census is for planning so as not to distort the information for the planning process.
“The Census period is not a time to travel to our villages.”
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu emphasised that the 2023 census is for development and not a tribal contest.
Okechukwu who is also a member of the National Census Publicity Committee stated that the residential headcount transcends religion or tribe and citizens must be aware of this understanding.
He maintained that President Buhari’s administration is working towards giving an accurate census for the incoming leadership to plan with.
According to him “Census is not a tribal contest but for development and if it succeeds, it is for our good and it will be a win-win situation for everyone. And what President Buhari want is to give a genuine and accurate census so that our President-Elect, Mr Bola Tinubu will know the numbers of Nigerians he is presiding over. Also, the State Governors will know the number of people in their respective States.”
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Chris Isiguzo challenged journalists to be objective while reporting the exercise.
Isiguzo who asked them not to be carried away by side attractions urged everyone to believe in the process so that the Buhari Government can bequeath to the incoming administration a proper planning.
“This year’s census is not anchored on tribalism, it is based on development and we should forget about stereotypes and biases and we must ensure that we support the success of the process and I am sure It will be a credible and be for the good of federal republic of Nigeria.”
