Trial Census: Enumeration continues in 5 Kwara LGAs

The National Population Commission (NPC)  says it will continue with its trial enumeration despite some challenges in affected five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara.

The commission assured residents in the nine selected areas of the state that the exercise would be extended beyond the scheduled time.

The state Director of NPC, Mallam Saheed Adebayo, made this known to our correspondent on Tuesday in Ilorin.

Adebayo said that the exercise was scheduled to hold from July 20 to July 24, but only four LGAs had concluded the exercise without any issues, while the remaining five LGAs were yet to finish.

He said that there were some challenges that hindered the officers at the affected LGAs, adding that the situation was under control.

The director stated that Baruten LGA have bad road network and poor communication network services, while officers deployed to Ilorin South were refused entrance to elite residential houses for security reasons.

“At Gaa Alhaji Mesuna Area of Edu LGA, the officers were not allowed to work because they claimed to be from Ifelodun LGA.

“Meanwhile, during demarcation and house numbering conducted, they were counted and their houses were numbered together with other areas at Edu LGA,” he said.

Adebayo however said that the Olupako of Share, Alhaji Haruna Suleiman Usman, Adegbite II, intervened and they were able to resolve the issue.

“Asa LGA also experienced low turnout as a result of change of plan, as all the areas that were marked as low occupants have now been fully occupied, causing more workload for the officers.

“Oyun LGA also have bad roads, so officers had to move by motorbike, because the area is not motorable.

“Most of the areas are Fulani settlement, in which there are lots of localities, but the Olojoku of Ojoku supported the officers to get motorbike for easy transportation, also provided accommodation and feeding,” he said.

The director said that Moro, Ilorin East, Oke-Ero and Ekiti LGAs returned from the exercise on July 25, and they had a successful experience.

He further said that all the officers should be through with the exercise latest by Friday.

Reports have it that 90 enumerators and nine supervisors were employed to conduct the trials at Baruten, Edu, Moro, Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Ekiti LGAs.