The National Population Commission (NPC) in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) took to the streets of Abuja on a roadshow to sensitise the populace on the upcoming 2023 population and housing census.
Executive Chairman of the NPC Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, while speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, said the roadshow was to enlighten and sensitise the people on the Housing Census, assuring of the commitment to conducting the first credible digital census in the country.
He said the NPC partnership with NOA was to deepen the already established collaboration towards an aggressive mobilization of Nigerians and FCT residents for the next census.
“We believe that this road-show will be stepped down to the State level to complement the advocacy and publicity for the next census.
“The NOA has established structure and channels of communication in national, state and local government areas. It has also cultivated a relationship with opinion leaders and influencers at the grassroots through its presence in all the Local Government Areas of the country. Leveraging this existing structures of NOA where it has a comparative advantage over the Commission will ensure grassroots dissemination of the 2023 Census messages.
“With the approval by Mr. President for the conduct of the next Population and Housing Census in 2023, preparations are in top gear for the successful implementation of the census project.
“Census is a national event and it’s 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.
“Over the years, the Commission has invested considerable time and resources in planning for the census by drawing from its rich institutional experience spanning two censuses and a pool of tested professionals to give the nation a truly digital and scientific census that will generate data for national planning within the context of our present realities.
“I expect that our collaboration in the advocacy and publicity campaign in support of the 2023 Population and Housing Census will sensitize every person in Nigeria to be counted for the sake of a greater, prosperous and planned Nigeria through the provision of accurate and reliable demographic data for sustainable development of our dear country.”
In his remarks, the Director General of the NOA Dr. Garba Abari, said the agency will not leave any stone unturned to ensure the proper awareness reaches all nook and cranny of Nigeria.
“We need to sensitize the population to know important of the National population census for purpose of planning, legislative, representation, insecurity that will reflect the peculiarity of our national demography men, women, youth, children per local government, state, geo political zone this is something that supposed to go down to every corner of the country and NOA have capacity to do that.”
“The NOA will ensure that all Nigerians are well informed to be properly counted. We will creat awareness using the social media such as twitter, Instagram pages and Facebook pages.
“The second method is to sensitize people by going to market street, Motto Park, churches mosque while the third method is to go to school, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to help carry the message through their effective network in the local communities,” he said.
