The National Population Commission (NPC,) on Wednesday, said it had so far conducted Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in nine out of the 17 local government areas in Yobe.
Alhaji Mai-Aliyu Mohammad, NPC’s Commissioner representing Yobe, disclosed this in Dapchi, Bursari Local Government Area of the state, while touring the state to supervise the exercise.
He listed the local government areas so far covered to include Damaturu, Potiskum, Bade, Nguru, Machina, Yusufari, Karasuwa, Tarmuwa and Fune.
The commissioner, however, said only three wards of Tarmuwa local government area were not captured in the exercise, due to security challenges, explaining that the commission, in conjunction with the state government and security operatives, would soon conduct the exercise in the areas.
Mohammad said that the EAD was now holding in Bursari and Jakusko local government areas up to April 3, to continue in Nengere and Fika local government councils thereafter.
He explained that the EAD involved numbering houses, making enquiries about households and mapping enumeration and registration areas, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the EAD was not a census, but an important preparatory activity to the head count which would be conducted by the commission in due course.
He said the exercise would also assist in providing geo-referenced sample frames for surveys, electoral wards delineation, infrastructure development and other planning purposes.
At Jakusko, the commissioner expressed satisfaction at the performance of his staff, who assured him that they would cover the entire local government area by first week of April.
Muhammad commended the local government for the support and cooperation accorded his staff.
The Council’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba, assured the commissioner of his continued support for a successful completion of the exercise.
Represented by Alhaji Suntalma Yusufari, Director Personnel in the council, Garba appealed to the NPC staff to ensure that they covered all buildings in the area and to draw the attention of the council anywhere they had any challenges.