Janet Samuel, Abuja
The Chairman Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi, has assured Nigerians of the National population commission (NPC) readiness to conduct the 2024 national census as planned.
Senator Ningi gave the assurance during the screening of the commissioner nominees for the (NPC) in Abuja.
Those screened include Sa’adatu Dogon Bauchi; Kaduna State, Emmanuel Eke; Abia, Dr Clifford Zirra; Adamawa, Mr Chidi Ezeoke; Anambra, Isa Buratai; Borno, Bishop Alex Ukam; Cross River, Blessyn Brume-Ataguba; Delta, Dr Jeremiah Nwankwegu;Ebonyi.
Others are Dr Tony Aiyejina; Edo, Mr Ejike Ezeh; Enugu, Mr Abubakar Damburam; Gombe, Prof. Uba Nnabue; Imo, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa; Kano, Yori Afolabi; Kogi, Mary Afan; Plateau, Mr Saany Sale; Taraba and Mr Ogiri Henry; Rivers.
The Chairman noted that “It is actually a renomination and we have perused through their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they. have just presented.”
“We are almost 11 years without taking the United Nations resolution on population which comes almost every seven years.
“I’m sure with the political will, this is possible, it’s doable, the commission is ready, the personnel are ready.
“All we need to do is the announcement by the President that the population census is coming on a date and once he says it, the international observers will now come in with their support.
“Without the President’s declaration, no one will send a kobo to Nigeria to support population census.
“Seventy five per cent of the logistics in terms of machines, in terms of training of the personnel have been completed.
“All we need to do is for the President to have the political will, commitment to say census is taking place and we cannot postpone it.”
Ningi further said that population census was actually the basic crux of human development adding that without census you can’t plan anything.
Ningi said that since the population issue was in the front burner, all efforts were underway to ensure its takeoff.
“The nominees should realise the importance of the assignment before them. The last time we had a national census was more than a decade ago.
“It is very imperative while you are on that duty, we must see ourselves as Nigerians. There is no basis for any competition that whether there are more Hausa people than Igbo people or youruba than Tivs.
“That is not the essence of population count. The essence is to be able to develop a mechanism where we lay a developmental plan that will meet the aspiration of our people.”
Earlier the Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC) Mr Nasir Kwarra said the people has long awaited the screening “we have been waiting for the screening long time ago. Thank God we are here today.
Speaking shortly after her screening, the nominee for Kaduna State, Dogon Bauchi, appreciated President Bola Tinubu in finding the women among the nominees worthy to serve as commissioners in the NPC, promising to give her best in the course of her services
She assured of the best outcome as the latest technology will be deloyed to gather first-hand data of Nigerians from the per head count.
