The National Population Commission has disclosed that it will count homeless persons during its current trial census which ends on July 31, 2022.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the NPC Federal Commissioner in charge of Katsina State, Bala Banye at a town hall meeting.
He disclosed that the homeless persons including beggars, vagrants, and the mentally unstable would be counted on the midnight of July 22, 2022.
Banye said, “Actual enumeration of all persons is from 22nd to 26th, July 2022 (5 days). After the validation, enumerators are to start enumeration of all persons on a de-facto basis.
“By [midnight] of 22nd July 2022, enumerators will begin to count the homeless persons found in their enumeration area. The homeless persons include beggars, vagrants and lunatics who are usually found in public places. These are places where homeless people sleep e.g. market squares and motor parks. The enumeration will end on the 26th, July 2022.
Banye also revealed that there would be a “mop-up enumeration” from July 27 to 31, 2022.
According to him, the mop-up enumeration applied to enumerators who face challenges within the enumeration period such as security challenges; accessibility to restricted areas and hard-to-reach terrains, among others.
“The Census Management team at the headquarters will consider the application submitted by the Census State Coordinator and approve the days for the mop-up,” the Katsina NPC boss added.
He appealed to all stakeholders including Katsina State government officials, security agencies and Daura Emirate Council, district heads in the Emirate as well as religious leaders and the member representing Daura Local Government Area at the state House of Assembly to ensure the success of the trial census.
Banye had earlier clarified that the outcome of the trial census would not form the basis of the 2023 Census.
He declared, “For the avoidance of doubt, the trial census is not the actual enumeration of persons for the 2023 population and housing census. In other words, the outcome of the trial census will not form the basis of the 2023 census. Data generated during the trial census will not be used to arrive at figures for the 2023 census, which is going to be zero-based and from information collected in April 2023.”
Banye also disclosed that the six Local Government Areas that would be fully enumerated in six geo-political zones across Nigeria during the trial census included Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State (North-East); Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State (North-West); Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State (North-Central); Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Ogun State (South-West); Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State (South-East) and Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State (South-South).
He further revealed that 7,718 Enumerator Administrators have been selected for the trial census to test run suitability and readiness for the actual census in 2023.
He appealed to all stakeholders including Katsina State government officials, security agencies and Daura Emirate Council, district heads in the Emirate as well as religious leaders and the member representing Daura Local Government Area at the state House of Assembly to ensure the success of the trial census.
Banye had earlier clarified that the outcome of the trial census would not form the basis of the 2023 Census.
He declared, “For the avoidance of doubt, the trial census is not the actual enumeration of persons for the 2023 population and housing census. In other words, the outcome of the trial census will not form the basis of the 2023 census. Data generated during the trial census will not be used to arrive at figures for the 2023 census, which is going to be zero-based and from information collected in April 2023.”
Banye also disclosed that the six Local Government Areas that would be fully enumerated in six geo-political zones across Nigeria during the trial census included Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State (North-East); Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State (North-West); Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State (North-Central); Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Ogun State (South-West); Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State (South-East) and Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State (South-South).
He further revealed that 7,718 Enumerator Administrators have been selected for the trial census to test run suitability and readiness for the actual census in 2023.
“However, some states have been selected for full Local Government Area enumeration to test challenges around complete coverage under various scenarios such as in hard to reach areas, special population, and rural/urban settings.”