Soludo tasks NPC on credible, acceptable census in 2023

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has tasked the National Population Commission, NPC on providing reliable, acceptable and credible data ahead of the 2023 Census, to aid effective and efficient planning.

The Governor made the call at Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka, during the State Stakeholders’ Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

The event which had the theme “Getting the People involved”, was organized by the National Population Commission in collaboration with the State Government.

“We have to know how many people we are planning for. Each community should have accurate data of its residents. I should be able to call on Traditional Rulers and President-Generals to tell me how many residents are in their communities.

“The purpose of Government is for the greatest good for the greatest number. We focus on communities that have greater numbers because we are serving the people.

“The National Population Census has lots of work to do. Your promise to offer digital, reliable, credible and acceptable data is a good thing.

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“We as the Government need this number to help us plan. While having numbers of residents, we will like to know their nationalities, state of origin, tribe and religion.

Speaking further, Governor Soludo said, “We are itinerant people! Our people live everywhere but during the festive season, we have more people returning back home. I need to plan and know the number of people I’m planning for because from time to time, they must come home”,

“For some unknown reasons, we have been afraid to confront the truth. People throw numbers and extrapolate. The truth is we don’t know the number of people we are planning for.

“The 2023 census must not be another opportunity missed. I’m glad it will employ full digital means”. Governor Soludo emphasized

Speaking before presenting the Governor with the 2023 Population and Housing Census document and decorating him as “Census Ambassador”, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke spoke about digital mapping which will help all areas in the country and the need for people to avoid movement during the census exercise.

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He maintained that it is the duty of security agencies to restrict movement and advised that people should stay in their residence from the census night till after the exercise is completed.

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In a goodwill message, Anambra State Director, National Orientation Agency, Barr. Charles Nwoji commended the National Population Commission for their synergy with the State Government to drive the message to the people.

He promised to utilize their structure and personnel in the 21 LGAs of the state to support the 2023 population census.

“By adopting a more scientific approach, we will espouse the best practices towards the exercise. An adequate enumeration will be a source of national pride. We take it as a challenge that our people are duly counted,” he said.

The Chairman Anambra Traditional Rulers Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred asked questions on how prepared NPC is, to ensure that ndi Anambra are well enumerated.

He noted that in the last census, Onitsha North and South residents went to their various communities when the census exercise commenced.