By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The National Population Commission, NPC, on Wednesday charged the Cross River State government and it’s residents not to relent in taking ownership of the 2023 population and housing census.
The commissioner representing Cross River State at the NPC, retired Navy Captain Charles Ogwa, dropped the charge in Calabar, during a joint press briefing with the National Orientation Agency, NOA.
Navy Captain Ogwa said, “It is better for the government of Cross River State to own up this census exercise.”
He averred that since census is a national event, it is the responsibility of all the citizens, irrespective of where they reside, to participate in the exercise, urging the citizens to present themselves for the head count.
He added, “That’s is basically what this census project is all about.”
Soliciting stakeholders’ support for peaceful and successful conduct of 2023 population census, the NPC commissioner appealed for all hands to be on deck so as to enable the commission deliver to the country, reliable, true and digital data, that can be used for sustainable development planning.
The commissioner enthused, “We are going to do the census; the out come of every preparatory activity for the exercise in the state has been very reassuring. We are not left behind.
“We have completed demarcation of the 18 local government areas, which we have presented the compendium of localities to the local governments for them to look at.
“If there are mistakes, such will be forwarded and in fact, over 12 local councils in Cross River have sent their error observations to us.
“And the commission is waiting for other local councils to bring theirs.
“So we have done first and second pretest exercises, we are testing the census instruments and the commission’s readiness, towards the 2023 census.”
In his earlier remarks, the state director of NOA, Amissuie Ogban, stated that the census doesn’t require any form of migration, but that it’s a digital exercise that all citizens should stay where they are based and will be captured accurately.
