Abubakar Umar to Buhari: Suspend Census, Focus on Security

 Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A former military administrator of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to suspend its plan to conduct a national census scheduled for April 2023.

Colonel Umar, who is the Chairman, Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), described the report on the planned census as shocking.

He said Nigeria was facing existential challenges epitomised by insecurity and collapsing economy. Therefore, embarking on a census would amount to a misadventure and waste of scarce resources.

Umar therefore urged the government to suspend the planned census and focus its energies on securing the nation as well as the 2023 elections.

The statement signed by Umar read: “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to seek and gotten the approval of the National Council of State to conduct National Census in April 2023 must have come as a great shock to most well-meaning Nigerians.

“A country that is facing existential challenges such as unprecedented levels of insecurity, collapsing economy cannot have as one of its priorities the conduct of a national census.

“We therefore urge the Buhari administration to suspend what will amount to misadventure and waste of scarce national resources.

“This administration should focus all its attention on securing the nation and conducting the 2023 elections.

“A National census at this point is certainly not a priority assuming that its conduct is possible,” Umar said.