By Elohor Igbru, Abuja
The Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Kwarra on Monday assured Nigerians that the population and housing census in 2023 will not politicised.
The assurance is coming ahead of the general elections that would also be conducted in 2023. Kwarra in his keynote address at a 3-day Capacity Building Workshop for journalists on the 2023 Population and Housing Census tagged “2023 Census- Getting People Involved” said the census will be seen in the light of just census exercise that publishes data, planning and development.
“We have chosen the time to carry out some of the census activities. We will make sure our activities and programmes are not politicised. We want this census to be seen as just a census exercise that publishes data, planning and development. We will have the main census after the general election in 2023 and the outcomes announced so that we can insulate the entire process and as well as the outcome from politics.”
Explaining the outcome of the preparatory activities of the 2023 Population and Housing census by the Commission, Kwarra said “The Commission has successfully demarcated 772 LGAs in all the States of the federation and the FCT, the remaining two LGAs of Abadam (Borno State) and Birning Gwari (Kaduna State) which has not been demarcated as a result of security challenge will be demarcated very soon.
“The Commission has also conducted the first and the second census pre-test exercises to test the census instruments in preparation for the census. The trial census will be conducted in June this year,” he said.
The Chairman further stated that the main purpose for the workshop was for journalists to effectively mobilize the citizenry by “getting the people involved”.
He said :”The Commission is on course in its mission of delivering an accurate census to Nigerians and a strategic partnership with the media will form the tripod upon which the census architecture will stand to reach-out to the Nigerian people.
“Therefore, the convening of this training workshop for the NPC Press Corp is one of such engagements and it underscores the determination and commitment of the Commission to conduct a successful Population and Housing Census in 2023 by engaging you the media to effectively mobilize the citizenry by “getting the people involved”.
Speaking at the event, Chairman, Public Affairs Committee, Eyitayo Oyetunji said media constitutes an important pillar of support for the success of the 2023 Census.
He therefore urged journalists to help inform the people and soliciting their support for the forthcoming 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“Media constitutes an important pillar of support for the success of the 2023 Census. On the other hand, Census taking is a people exercise, therefore getting the people involved to participate and own it, is paramount to its overall success. It is in realization of this that the support of the media is required in informing the people and soliciting their support for the forthcoming 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“Getting the media to be constantly delivering the right and timely information to the public constitute an integral and indispensable component of the 2023 Census strategy,” he said.
