By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Ahead of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, the Population Commission on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Commission Secretariat Asaba, inaugurated the security/logistics and publicity/advocacy committees.
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The Federal Commissioner representing Delta State in the Commission, Chief Richard Odibo, inaugurated the committees, and revealed that setting up of the committees is very necessary considering the scope of the exercise which he said, involves head count of every person resident in the Nigeria.
Chief Odibo further noted that the security challenges in the country and the need to create awareness also necessitated the inauguration of the committees, maintaining that the security/logistics committee would help to facilitate the security and training as well as transportation and security of census personnel and materials.
He further stated that security/logistics committee would as well help in maintaining public peace and order and also to protect NPC personnel, as they will also help in securing National Population Commission offices, vehicles and equipments, among others.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the publicity/advocacy committee will help in carrying out public enlightenment and education as well as solicit support for the 2023 census, its process and procedures. He said it will also undertake advocacy visits as well as strategic engagements with key stakeholders at the state and local government levels,” he said.
According to him, the committee will also help to promote institutional collaboration and partnership between the commission, government agencies and communities/faith-based organisations on the 2023 census advocacy and publicity.
”The committee is also tasked with the responsibility of implementing effective advocacy and publicity strategies in the 2023 census as well as arranging and mobilising town criers to take message of the 2023 census to the grassroots among others,” he added.
Odibo, however, noted that considering the wealth of experience and commitment to nation building, the members of the committees were nominated for the task.
The two committees, he added, would be guided by the 2023 Population and Housing Census Strategy document.
In his remarks, the representative of the State Security Committee, Mr. Rowland Oditte, assured the NPC that the committee would give necessary support for the success of the 2023 population.
The representative of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Patrick Ochei, also assured that the media would give adequate publicity to the 2023 census, while Mr Chris Anyabuine, Director National Orientation Agency, Delta State assured that no one will be left uncounted in Delta. It was also disclosed that the committees will be co-chaired by the Commissioner of Police Delta State and Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu.