NPC commences trial census in six states, federal capital territory
From: Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the trial census with fieldwork in six States and the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.
The census is slated for two weeks and ends on July 30, 2022, in the selected Enumeration Areas (EAs) and Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the States and territory.
The trial census tagged: “Census Dress Rehearsal,” is a pre-census limited activity to evaluate all aspects of the census operations before the 2023 national headcounts.
NPC Director of Public Affairs, Isiaka Yahaya stated on Saturday in Maiduguri that during the trials, all census operations are tested in detailed and comprehensive ways.
He said that this is to fully assess the level of preparedness of the Commission to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
According to him, the two-week trial census shall cover 7, 681 EAs in the 36 States and FCT.
Besides, he added that six LGAs have been selected from the six selected States from the six geo-political zones of the country.
He explained that this could enable the Commission to conduct a full population enumeration, in 45 EAs of nine LGAs cutting across three Senatorial Districts.
“Nine Council Areas were selected from each of the States and the FCT for enumeration,” he said.
He said that the trial census fieldwork includes, building numbering and household listing from 13th to 15th July 2022.
While the validation of EA frame, he added begun from 16th to 18th July 2022; person’s enumeration from 19th to 25th July 2022.
According to him, the enumeration mop will commence from 26th to 30th July 2022.
He, therefore, expected the enumerators to visit all residential and non-residential buildings within the selected EAs.
“You should number the buildings and enumerate members of households in the buildings,” he said.
He warned that information collected from the Trial Census will not form the basis of the result of the 2023 headcounts of people and houses in the country.
He, therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of State Governments, Local Government Councils and Stakeholders in the sensitization and mobilization of the people for the trial census.
“The general public should kindly contact our call centre on 0700 023 6787 for other inquiries on next year’s census,” he said.