2023 CENSUS: ABIA STATE PLANS TO MOBILIZE RESIDENTS

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, says development planning and implementation cannot be carried out without reliable population figures.

Governor Ikpeazu stated this in a message to a stakeholders summit on the 2023 population and housing census in Umuahia, the state capital.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Okey Ahaiwe, said the state government was in full support of the census and urged all residents to take part when the exercise would be conducted next year.

The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Abia State, Chief Johnny Nwabuisi, said the commission had made all necessary arrangements to conduct an electronically based census in April 2023 and urged all residents to take part in it.

Chief Nwabuisi noted that getting accurate figures would go a long way in fast tracking the development of the state, lamenting that the disruptions recorded in the 2006 exercise resulted in Abia State getting low figures, which had adversely affected the state in the areas of allocation of resources and attracting development projects.

He descried the lack of cooperation the commission recorded at Aba North Local Government Area in the build up to the census and urged members of communities across the state to support next year’s exercise.

Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabeke, urged his colleagues to mobilize their subjects to take effective part in the 2023 census to enable NPC get accurate data, which would aid the development of their domains.

The event, brought together stakeholders, including security agencies, traditional rulers, media organizations, youth and women groups, religious leaders and the organized labour, as well as the General Manager, Radio Nigeria Pacesetter FM, Umuahia, Mr. Uche Ndukwe.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU