We’re most short-changed state in terms of population – Nasarawa governor
We’re most short-changed state in terms of population – Nasarawa governor
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has said that the state is interested in a new national census. According to him, his state needs the head counting more than any other state in the country.
The Governor stated this a courtesy visit to him by a delegation of the National Population Commission (NPC). He said that Nasarawa is the most short-changed state in terms of population.
Sule told the team which was led by the Chairman of the Commisssion, Nasir Isa Kwarra that Nasarawa state was under counted. He describing the 2006 census which pegged the population of the state at 1, 869, 377 as a total joke.
The governor emphasized that Karu Local Government Area of the state alone had more than 1.8 million people residing in Masaka, Ado and Maraba, which he said that they have fused into a city.
The Governor said he has used every opportunity at his disposal to decry the injustice done to the state during the last census and that he will continue to voice his discontent until the right thing is done.
“Nasarawa State is the worst when it comes to the number of voters per polling units. We have only 1 495 polling units in the entire state. Even states that have lower population than ours, like Ekiti and Bayelsa, have more number of polling units than Nasarawa,” He explained.
The governor further said he is seeking to remedy the imbalance in the outcome of the 2006 census because his administration strongly believes in planning, stressing that without proper data on the actual population of the state, planning may be ineffective.
Governor Sule, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government for the honour done to the state, promising to support the commission towards achieving its objectives.
He equally appreciated the NPC for successfully carrying out its enumeration area demarcation in Keana and Doma LGA of the state.
On his part, Nasir Isa Kwarra, said members of the commission were in the state to create public awareness on the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), as well as other mandates of the commission.
Kwarra, who was on his first official visit since assumption of office, explained that the NPC needs support of the people for the success of the commission’s activities hence the visit was to create awareness and solicit the government’s support for the activity which has direct bearing on the socio-economic and political life of the people.
While disclosing that the Phase 13 of the EAD will commence on March 8 and ends on April 4, the chairman announced that the exercise will take place in Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas.
Hon. Kwarra assured that the commission intends to provide the nation with a reliable and trustworthy EAD frame, which will serve as a good foundation for the conduct of a reliable and acceptable census.
We’re most short-changed state in terms of population – Nasarawa governor
