2023: Census: NPC Partner NOA To Kick-off Nationwide Sensitisation
The National Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has kicks-off the nationwide sensitisation toward educating Nigerians on the 2023 population and housing census.
The road show which started from two points of the NPC and NOA headquarters, terminate at the old parade ground in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a sensitisation message.
While addressing newsmen during the event, on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director-general of NOA Dr Garba Abari, said that the aimed of the campaign is to raises awareness on the important of 2023 population and housing census.
Abari noted that NOA has presence in all local governments and villages across the federation, added that NOA would help to send the message to citizens to be counted for during the exercise.
Speaking on the importance of the census, Abari pledged its commitment to take the campaign down to grassroots of the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NPC, Nasir Isah Kwarra, said that the partnership is to build the capacity of the NOA functionaries to have a deeper understanding of the census methodology to effectively sensitize and mobilize the people for the 2023 Census.
He said: “Census is a national event and is the responsibility of every citizen to participate by presenting themselves to be counted. The Commission will no doubt, need the support of all stakeholders to deliver to the country credible and reliable data it can use for sustainable development planning.
“Over the years, the Commission has invested considerable time and resources in planning for the census by drawing from its rich institutional experience spanning two censuses and a pool of tested professionals to give the nation a truly digital and scientific census that will generate data for national planning within the context of our present realities”.
Kwarra, further noted that the commission has successfully demarcated 773 LGAs in all the States of the Federation and the FCT. The demarcation of the remaining one LGA of Abadam (Borno State) which has not been demarcated as a result of security challenges is ongoing.
“The Commission has also conducted the first and the second census pre-test exercises as well as the Trial Census to test the census instruments and the Commission’s readiness in preparation for the 2023 Census. The Commission is currently conducting a Post Enumeration Survey (PES) in selected Enumeration Areas in six States across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to determine coverage and content errors of the just concluded Trial Census.
“The Commission is on course in its mission of delivering the most credible and acceptable census in Nigeria’s history and a strategic partnership with the relevant agencies such as NOA will form the platform upon which the census architecture will stand to reach out to the Nigerian people.
“Therefore, this collaboration with NOA underscores the determination and commitment of the Commission to conduct a successful Population and Housing Census in 2023 by partnering with the relevant agencies to effectively mobilize the citizenry by “getting the people involved”.
He assure Nigerians and others stakeholders that the commission will deliver an accurate, reliable and acceptable 2023 Population and Housing Census that will fast-track the socio economic development of Nigeria.