NPC seeks NUJ support for 2023 census success

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The National Population Commission (NPC) has solicited the support and cooperation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Akwa Ibom Council for adequate publicity to ensure the success of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census in the state.

The Federal Commissioner of the commission in Akwa Ibom, Mr Benedict Ukpong, urged journalists in the state to adequately publicise the activities of the commission in the state when he addressed members of the union during April monthly congress in Uyo on Thursday.

Ukpong said journalists were critical stakeholders in ensuring the success of the 2023 population and housing census in the country.

He told journalists that the 2023 census would be driven by modern technology where the computer-assisted device would be used to collect data in the field and send real-time to the server for analysis.

The federal commissioner urged the media to inform the people across the state on the need to be fully involved in the 2023 population and housing census as it would be used to plan for infrastructure development and social amenities.

He added that the outcome of the census would also be used to determine and plan for job creation, efficient budgeting, improved business forecasting and projection among others.

Ukpong noted that no organisation could strive to achieve success without constantly passing cogent information to all its stakeholders, with the view to securing their cooperation and support, hence the need for the briefing.

“Gentlemen of the Press, the National Population Commission is set to conduct the first digital and green census in Nigeria this year.

“This briefing is timely, necessary and strategic as it provides us with the unique opportunity to proactively engage the Journalists and other critical stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State and also gets some positive feedback and contributions to ensure the successful conduct of the credible and acceptable census.

“It is important to notify you that the 2023 Population and Housing Census will be driven by modern technology where the computer-assisted devices would be deployed to collect data in the field and send same real-time to the national server for analysis,” Ukpong said.

Ukpong said that the commission before now carried out preliminary activities for the census in the 36 states of the federation and FCT, which included; Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), pre-tests and trial census, where all instruments and methodology of the census were subjected to credibility.

The federal commission urged Akwa Ibom Government to key into the 2023 census as it is for the common interests, progress and development of the country.

“May I use this medium to plead with the leadership of our dear State and get them to understand that census is for our common interests, progress and development and Akwa Ibom State cannot afford to lag behind” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of NUJ in Akwa Ibom, Comrade Amos Etuk, assured the federal commissioner of the support and cooperation of all Journalists to ensure the success of the 2023 population and housing census in Akwa Ibom.