TAKE THE TRIAL CENSUS SERIOUSLY — NPC ADMONISHES ABIA RESIDENTS

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

The National Population Commission (NPC) wants residents of Abia State to take the ongoing trial census in the state seriously to ensure appropriate figures are obtained in 2023 national census.

NPC Federal Commissioner in-charge of Abia State, Chief Johnny Nwabuisi, made the call during a news briefing in Umuahia.

He lamented that failure of the people to take the process seriously in 2006, resulted in the low figures recorded for Abia in that census.

This situation he said had adversely affected the state in terms of resource allocation.

The NPC Commissioner explained that the trial census taking place in nine local government areas across the three senatorial zones was to ensure that all the arrangements put in place worked very well ahead of the main census in 2023.

He then solicited maximum participation of residents of the areas where the trial census would take place.

The Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Joseph Nwabeke, represented by Eze Godfrey Onwuka, urged NPC to adequately enlighten traditional rulers to enable them to effectively mobilize their subjects ahead of the census.

In their remarks, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abia State, Dr. Ngozi Okechukwu, said there was the need for closer collaboration between NPC and her agency, which was in the forefront of mobilizing the populace.

Also the State Coordinator of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Loveday Ogbonna, said Abia people should take adequate capturing of the population figures seriously as it would go a long way in moving the state forward.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU