The National Population Commission (NPC)’s National Commissioner representing Delta State, Chief Richard Odibo, has urged security agencies, the media and the public to support the commission towards ensuring the successful conduct of the first digital census in the country tagged: 2023 Census, scheduled to hold next month.
Chief Odibo made the call in Asaba, the state capital during the inauguration of Delta State Security, Logistics, Advocacy and Publicity Committees for the upcoming census exercise in the state.
Chief Odibo listed the terms of reference of the Security and Logistics Committees to include: transportation and security of NPC personel, protection of training facilities and materials for the conduct of the census.
For the Advocacy and Publicity Committee the Federal Commissioner noted their functions entail mobilizing resources and engaging stakeholders at the state and local level, including the use of town criers to keep residents abreast of the processes and execution of the 2023 Census.
Odibo remarked ” Every local government has been demarcated; including the hard to reach local governments.
“We tested our instruments, we conducted what we call the Trial Census.
“We have been carrying out training programs. We are almost there.”
The Delta State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr Chris Anyabuine, and the Secretary of the Delta State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Patrick Ochei, pledged to support the Population Commission in the effort to achieve a detailed national database of citizenry to aid policy planning and implemention.
Anyabuine stated: “Our formations at the grassroots will be placed fully in the service of this particular assignment.”
On his part Comrade Ochei posited: “The media constituency, we will do our possible best to ensure it’s a success.”
A representative from the Directorate on Security Matters, Mr Roland Odiete, who is a member of the Security and Logistics Committee, emphasized the importance of the census to national development, while pledging the committees readiness to ensure the safety and movement of NPC staff and materials.
The State Commissioner of Police, and the Delta State Commissioner for Information are both Co-Chairmen of the committees, alongside the National Commissioner, while the State Director of the NPC, Mr. Patrick Lotobi, serves as Secretary.
