2023 Census Critical to Addressing Nigeria’s Problems, Says NPC
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa, has assured Nigerians that the 2023 census will address the myriad of problems bedeviling the country.
Durunguwa, representing Kaduna State at the commission, stated this during a chat with members of the Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum in Abuja at the weekend.
He said most of the issues affecting the country would be over when the census is thoroughly conducted, adding that the exercise would show the government where the problems are.
According to him, “The census will provide the needed data for the government and its partners to plan how to respond to people’s needs and how to set the country on the path to sustainable development.
“The data that is required is more about where you reside and not your village or state because the essence of the data is to solve people’s problems wherever you are. “The country needs to know the composition and the dynamics of its population and as such, people should be counted wherever they are.”
He called on every Nigerian to stay where they are to be counted so that the government would know about the people to help the government to plan.
According to him, after the census, the government will have a working document that will be used to respond to peculiar challenges affecting people residing in different parts of the country.
“Most of the population data currently in use in Nigeria is estimated. We need to know the actual number of the poor among us; the number of out-of-school children, the poverty level and other indices.
“The last census was conducted in 2006 and children born that year are already 17 years old. You can see the huge gap.”
The commissioner assured Nigerians that the exercise would be conducted as soon as the new administration is inaugurated, and reiterated the commission’s resolve to make it the best ever.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum, Mr. Ango Bally, said the visit was to strengthen partnership and collaboration.
Bally explained that the forum would serve as a veritable tool for sensitisation and mobilisation of the people to participate in the exercise.
He assured the commission that the journalists on the platform would continue sensitising the people on the importance of the housing and population census.
