By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
The Chairman National Population Commission, NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra on Thursday disclosed that the commission postponed the proposed May 2023 National Population and Housing Census to ensure acceptability and ownership by the incoming administration of President-elect, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The NPC chairman made this known during an advocacy visit to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the government house in Ilorin.
“After the commission completed its pre-census exercise and informed number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari, we were told to put it on hold, said this is a transition period, we should allow the incoming administration to be the one to carry it out to ensure acceptability and ownership.
“The commission however told to continue with some other activity that would aid the success of the exercise anytime it is coming up, such as advocacy campaigns”
According to the chairman, all technologies to be deployed for the exercise have been tested including GPS and satellite for the digital maps to be used for the census.
Malam Nasiru Kwarra added that every house in the country had been physically demarcated except for migrant farmers and mentally challenged citizens of the country.
The chairman said 30 percent of those who applied for the census exercise, were recruited from the localities to ensure smooth operation and execution of the project.
Assuring that the 2023 census will be different from the previous exercises, he said a necessary mechanism had been put in place to monitor the conduct of staff to ensure accuracy and efficiency to mitigate litigations at the end of the exercise.
The chairman thanked the state government for supporting the commission in the state and solicited continued support to ensure the success of the exercise.
Responding, Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who received the NPC chairman on behalf of the state governor, described census as very important for the overall development of Nigeria, including sharing of resources to geo-political zones of the country.
Also speaking, the Federal Population Commissioner in Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Folorunsho Gidado, thanked the government for its support so far to the agency.
The chairman alongside the other management team of NPC also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari at his palace where the monarch was decorated as Census Ambassador.
