The Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC) from Adamawa State, Dr. Clifford T O Zirra has updated Nigerians on the level of preparations for the scheduled 2023 population and Housing census.
Zirra during a breakfast meeting with media executives in Adamawa State updated them with the current status of the 2023 census and the next steps forward in the light of the postponement of the census.
While recounting the delay in the conduct of the exercise which was caused by the postponement of the NPC 2023 population and Housing census by President Muhammadu Buhari
Zirra assured Nigerians that the 2023 census will certainly be done after having a meeting with President Tinubu some time ago who has assured them
He expressed NPC’s readiness to conduct a hitch-free exercise as all preparations regarding training, creating awareness, and enumeration area Demarcation (EAD) was meticulously undertaken in such a way that only an update will be required for the future census.
He said the commission is ever ready haven carried out a medicampamedia campaignaborate with stakeholdestrengthenedwhethern through the inauguration of committees at the state and local government levels.
Zina accordingly said; “it is now left for the federal government to give the go-ahead and continue with the exercise as the postponement allowed them to perfect its process and systems for the conduct of the first-ever digital census.
“The process and systems put in place for the census are therefore being currently reviewed to determine what needs to be done to ensure that the preparations do not become obsolete for the census. The focus of the commission is to ensure that all the resources expended so far are safeguarded and that the nation does not need to start all over when the census is to be conducted.
“For us at the commission, this is not a difficult task. In coming up with the plan for the 2023 census, the commission was not only looking at the immediate needs of delivery of the next census but concerned with laying a solid foundation for future censuses. This mindset informed the scope and quality of arrangements put in place “.
” using satellite imageries, the enumeration areas were all geo-referenced with the coordinates of all the buildings established. The products of the EAD are currently being used by other government agencies.
“In readiness for the census, NPC had carried out massive advocacy and publicity for the 2023 census at all levels of government. Media campaigns were being intensified while collaboration with stakeholders was strengthened through the inauguration committees. Publicity materials in English and local languages have been disseminated and social media have been deployed on a massive scale. The commission will continue to carry out advocacy to ensure that the census messages remain at the center of the state discourse”.
