The Executive Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra has solicited the support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians and critical stakeholders to ensure the delivery of an acceptable, accurate, and reliable Population and Housing Census this year.
He stated this in Abuja at the National Workshop on Dissemination of Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) Deliverables and Derivatives.
The NPC Boss urged Nigerians to join the Commission in a bid to produce accurate and reliable data through the forthcoming 2023 Population and Housing Census.
While reiterating the unwavering commitment of the Commission to positively rewrite the history of censuses in Nigeria and deliver to the nation accurate and reliable census data, he revealed that preparations for the 2023 Population and Housing Census are on course and in top gear.
He also said Commission is confident that the prospect for an accurate and reliable census appears brighter than ever.
The NPC Boss further called for a change of attitude in the way Census data is perceived, adding that credible and reliable data would be used for sustainable development planning.
He said: “There is the need for a shift in national attitude that sees census data as a tool for seeking economic and political advantages.
“Rather, we must strive to discover the real essence of the census data as a treasure of information and compass in the effort to build and plan a greater and prosperous Nigeria.
“Our vision of the 2023 census has been designed to produce not only accurate, reliable, and acceptable census but also inclusive and user-friendly census data.
“This desire has informed the scope and quality of preparations made for the census thus far.
“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.”
The NPC disclosed that the Commission, over the years, had invested considerable time and resources in planning for the successful conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census with a series of preparatory activities.
One of such preparatory activities, he explained, was the conduct of Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), which is the delineation of the country into units of Enumerators Assignment Area maps for Censuses and Surveys.
This move, he explained, is to ascertain that units of enumeration during such exercise are not overlapping and are contiguously exhaustive, as it provides Censuses and Surveys with an accurate geographic frame to ensure the distinctiveness of units of enumeration.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Cartography Committee, Chiso Dattijo, explained that the intention of the National Workshop on Dissemination of Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) Deliverables and Derivatives, was to deliver an error-free, reliable sustainable national development data.
Dattijo said the EAD commenced in 2014, adding that digital technology has been deployed by the Cartography Department in collaboration with other departments in the Commission to complete the EAD of Nigeria.
(independent.ng)
