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| 2023 Census Delta Committee |
By Michael Odiah
The Federal commissioner, National Population Commission, Delta state, Richard Odibo has inaugurated members of the state census publicity, security and logistics committees for 2023 population and housing census.
In his address, Odibo said: "the census is intended to provide reliable data to support key decisions at various levels. The last census was done 17 years ago, we don't want to deviate this time. In a bid to create adequate awareness and solve challenges with security and logistics, the need to create these committees came to light."
He called on Deltans to take the census serious because they count, stressing that "Census is more important than an election, it makes it possible for a government to develop a plan for the nation from security challenges to employment amongst others."
While speaking on the challenges so far, Odibo pointed that: "Some traditions have it that you can't count their children, that if you do, one god would reduce the number. The baby born on that day of the head count would be counted, everyone needs to be counted if we must get it right for adequate planning, adequate governance and security."
"Challenges are there, so many of them, but by grace of God we will over come", adding that "we have engaged stakeholders at all levels in all our activities, we have gone ahead to visit 80% of traditional rulers. As for IDPs, we will go there and data will be recorded to that village or enclave."
The commissioner noted that census is a process which has started, "we have tested our instruments, we conducted trial census and training, we are almost there", stressing that "we are doing our bit, we expect the policy makers to do their bit. It is for us to generate the data for them to use. We have trained over 20,000 personnels in Delta state; it is not as usual, it's digital this time, just cooperate with us and make yourself available."
In a response, Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council, Patrick Ochei and a member of the publicity committee and ambassador who stated that, "We are here for a very serious business, of course we know it's a call to service, it bequeaths on us to do our role to ensure the census is carried out properly"
Ochei while emphasizing on the role of the media, assured of adequate media awareness to ensure a huge success of the head count in the state. "We will engage all factors including those at the community journalism as they are the main actors with the grassroots, we will on our part do our best to publicize the activities of the commission".
Also speaking at the event, newly decorated ambassador and Delta state Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, UB Eshiet said that the Command has always collaborated with the commission, "our vehicle was used during the test phase, stressing that "this is so important to Nigeria and that is why everyone must be involved so we can get the right data. We are going to do our best to ensure the the success of this census for the good of the nation.
The inauguration took place at the Felix ibru secretariat conference hall in Asaba with stakeholders from security agencies the national orientation agency, news agency of Nigeria, Radio Nigeria amongst others.
