Malam Muhammad Dattijo Usman, the National Population Commission’s Federal Commissioner in Niger State, has called on journalists in the country to lend their support and promote the objectives of the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) in Nigeria. The commissioner emphasized the importance of the exercise, urging journalists to work towards ensuring that the NPHC yields credible, reliable, and acceptable outcomes.
The commissioner made this call during a press conference held at the IBB Pen House in Minna, the capital of Niger State. In addressing concerns over the postponement of the exercise, Usman clarified that the delay was not due to a lack of funding but to enable the incoming administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to have input on the overall exercise.
Usman reassured the public that the questionnaire would not include ethnicity or religion and advised Nigerians to remain calm and participate in the census.
Furthermore, the commissioner affirmed that officials will be trained and retrained adequately to ensure that mistakes during the exercise are minimal. This census will differ from all other censuses in the past and will include counting individuals in hard-to-reach areas affected by banditry incidents in the four local government areas in Niger state: Munya, Mariga, Shiroro, and Rafi.
As the NPHC approaches, reporters and journalists in the country need to heed the commissioner’s call and inform the public about the importance of the census. An accurate census is vital for the government in planning and executing policies that cover areas such as health, education, security, and the economy. Therefore, journalists need to educate the public about the census and promote a culture of responsiveness and obedience to laws aimed at ensuring the success of the exercise.
In conclusion, every citizen’s cooperation is crucial in achieving reliable and accurate statistics that will assist policymakers in planning for Nigeria’s development.
