The chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has re-assured Nigerians that the commission would conduct a credible, reliable, and acceptable population census.
Kwarra gave the assurance Friday in Uyo at the flag-off of the 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), and the official commissioning of the remodelled and reconstructed Akwa Ibom state NPC office building.
He said he would leave no stone unturned in providing the necessary facilities for a comfortable work environment for its personnel.
Kwarra, represented by the federal commissioner, Akwa Ibom state, Chief Benedict Ukpong, said the re-modelled building was in steady preparation for the next population and housing census.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the financial and moral support which made the commissioning possible, saying under his leadership, staff welfare would be his priority.
“We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that all corresponding facilities including habitable and good working environments are delivered to ensure the constitutional mandate of the Commission is fulfilled amongst which is the effective delivery of the next Population and Housing Census, which will be credible, reliable and acceptable.
“The re-modelled and reconstructed office building we are officially commissioning today will serve as the administrative hub for the effective functioning of the Akwa Ibom state NPC office where vital meetings and critical decisions that concern the growth and progress of the Commission will be made,” he said.
On his part, the federal commissioner, represented by the state director, Mr. Emmanuel Edem, said one of the objectives of 2023-24 NDHS “is to gather high-quality data on a wide range of vital indicators.”
He said, “For over three decades, the National Population Commission, in collaboration with key partners, has diligently implemented the NDHS, consistently raising the bar for demographic and health data collection in Nigeria.
“Today, as we launch this survey at the state level, we reiterate our commitment to upholding the same high standards of excellence and precision that has defined the NDHS over the years.”
On her part, the NDHS state coordinator, Mrs. Helen Amakwe, said the flag-off in Akwa Ibom was after a one-month training of the team in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, and a zonal flag-off in Port Harcourt.
Amakwe stated that the exercise which is conducted every five years is the eight in the series in Nigeria, adding that NDHS is a semi-census programme carried out in the 36 states of the Federation including FCT.
She said the survey “is taking place in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Affairs, and USAID and ICF as its technical assistants.”
