The National Population Commission (NPC) has assured Nigerians that the outcome of the 2023 National Census will be credible and acceptable to all.
Chief Nwabisi Nwanne (a.k.a. Muo Ka Muo), the Abia Federal Commissioner in NPC, gave the assurance at a news conference in Umuahia on Friday.
The conference was organised by the commission to solicit the support and cooperation of stakeholders in the state to ensure the success of both the Trial and National Censuses.
He said that the commission would deploy digital technology in carrying out the census, hence his confidence that its outcome would be credible.
According to him, unlike previous exercises in the country, the upcoming census would be done with digital gadgets.
“The data generated with the digital tablets from the field would be uploaded directly to the NPC Database.
“With this technological approach, there will be no room for any alterations in the data,” Nwanne said.
He said that the trial census, otherwise known as dress rehearsal, would provide the opportunity for the commission to test run the equipment acquired for the exercise, ahead of the main exercise in 2023.
He said that the pilot local government areas were selected three from each of the three Senatorial Districts in the state.
The Local Governments include Bende, Ohafia and Isuikwuato (Abia North), Umuahia North, Isialangwa North and Osisioma (Abia Central) and Aba North, Obingwa and Ugwunagbo (Abia South).
The federal commissioner, therefore, appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders to assist the commission to ensure the success of the exercise in their respective communities.
He specifically requested them to assist the enumerators with temporary accommodation and also allow them free movement within the communities.
He further urged them to allow them access into buildings and housing units in their areas.
Nwanne also appealed to the stakeholders to assist in providing guides and security for the enumerators and their equipment.
He urged them never to interfere in the process but allow the enumerators to discharge their assignment without let or hindrance.
Nwanne also said that the commission, in collaboration with the State Government and security agencies, had concluded measures for adequate security for the enumerators and residents during the entire exercise.
He urged the people of the state not to allow themselves to be dissuaded from taking part in the census on account of the agitation for Biafra.
He said: “The realisation of Biafra would depend on the conduct of a referendum by the UN.
“And, of course, such a referendum could only be possible subject to the population of the people of the region.
“Therefore, if you truly want a referendum, you must present yourselves to be counted in order to ensure that the exact population of the region is captured.”
Nwanne said that bio-data on tribe and religion were not going to be captured.
He said that NPC could only use the census to highligh factors that unite and de-emphasize those that divide Nigerians.
Stakeholders at the conference, including some traditional rulers, the state Director of NOA, Dr Ngozi Okechukwu, and state Coordinator of the National Identity Management Commission, Mr Loveday Ogbonna, pledged to collaborate with NPC to ensure the success of the census.
They underscored the need for the citizenry to participate actively in the exercise because of its importance in ensuring government’s strategic planning for overall national development.
The Chairman of the Abia Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabeke, represented by the Deputy Chairman (Central), Eze Chinedu Onwuka, promised that the council would fully mobilise their subjects for the exercise.
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