By Okhide Em’ya David
Ahead of next year election, the National Population Commission has asked Nigerians not to Confuse the 2023 National Head Count and Housing Population with the General Election in the Country scheduled for the Same Year
The Director, National Population Commission Office in Edo State Mr. Ayodele Okiei said the clarification becomes necessary owing to wide misconception amongst the public that the 2023 Head Count and Housing Population is part of the General Election which is scheduled for February and March next year.
He spoke to Alltimepost.com correspondent during a sensitization rally in Benin City which was jointly carried out by the Commission, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other Stakeholder Agencies.
Okiei asked the People to refrain from frantic efforts to register for the exercise as it is the logical preparation for Election as all they need is to stay at home during the National Head Count so that they will be captured into the National Population Data base of the Country as well as give other basic information as would be requested by the Census Enumeration Officers.
He said the National Head Count and Housing Population is scheduled for April while the General Election takes place in February and March 2023.
The Edo State Director National Orientation Agency, Mr. Austin Odile addressing the Mammoth Crowd which turned up for the National Head Count and Housing Population advocacy harped on the need for the People to see the exercise as a mandatory Civic responsibility.
Odile encouraged all Stakeholders and concerned persons to work resiliently to ensure an accurate exercise, especially to correct the absurd projection or guessing by Global Agencies that Nigeria is hitting an all high five Billion index Human Population by 2030 AD.
He said it was not by accident that all Stakeholders including the International Media, National Youth Service Corps, National Orientation Agency, the Military and Paramilitary Organizations are engaged in the 2023 National Head Count and Housing Population advocacy.Rather, he noted that it was a deliberate Strategy to ensure Participants hit the ground running to spread the message which they have been taught at the event by the highly qualified Resources Persons.
He said they should particularly disabuse their minds from speculations that the Political Parties who emerge victorious in the 2023 General Elections will also produce the highest Data at the Census Enumeration in their Constituencies which follows immediately.
Odile expressed the hope that the Data from the exercise judging from the enthusiasm exhibited by Nigerians will be so accurate that the Census Tribunals will have not many issues to resolve.
He said his sense of patriotism was driven by outstanding success recorded by Nigerian in tackling spread of both Ebola Disease and the dreaded Coronavirus that Global Organizations including World Health Organization as well as Western nations such as the United States of America, United Kingdom, France amongst others did not only commend the nation but emulated some of its key Strategies.
On his part, the Head of Local Government Administration of Oredo Local Government Area, Mr. Kensington Osifo promised on behalf of the entire length and breadth of his Council, adequate logistics to ensure a hitch-free Census Enumeration.
He said he will start by boosting awareness on the exercise especially amongst rural folks to demystify the flying myths such as residents claiming that it is an abomination in some Native Laws and Customs to count one’s Children otherwise there will be serious repercussion from the ancestors.
Some members of the public including head of traders in some markets, tricyclists, drivers of commercial busses and motor park staff, who witnessed the advocacy commended the organizers.
They said they have quite been enlightened on the essence of the 2023 National Head Count and Housing Population and promised to tell others about the exercise.
Also present at the event were, the Heads of the National Population Commission offices in the seven Local Governments Areas of Edo South Senatorial District, including Oredo, Pastor Ehigie Samuel, Ikpoba Okha Mrs. Agnes Ibadin, Uhunmwode, Mrs. Ekhator Judith and Ovia South West, Mr. Omoregie Odaze.
Mrs. Ogbeide Habiba of Ovia North East Local Government Office of the National Population Commission as well as that of Orhionmwon Mr. Franklin Etuwezor were also present at the sensitization rally in Benin City.
