ASABA/Nigeria: The National Commissioner representing Delta State in the National Population Commission NPC Chief Richard Odibo, has urged security agencies, the media, and the public to support the commission towards ensuring the successful conduct of the first digital census in the country tagged: 2023 Census, scheduled to hold next month.
Mr. Odibo made the call in Asaba, the state capital during the inauguration of Delta State Security, Logistics, Advocacy and Publicity Committees for the coming exercise in the state.
Chief Richard Odibo listed the terms of reference of the Security and Logistics Committees to include: transportation and security of NPC personnel, protection of training facilities and materials for the conduct of the census.
For the Advocacy and Publicity Committee, the Federal Commissioner noted their function entails mobilizing resources and engaging stakeholders at the state and local level, including the use of Town Criers to keep residents abreast of the processes and execution of the 2023 Census.
“Every local government has been demarcated; including the hard-to-reach local governments. “We tested our instruments, we conducted what we call the Trial Census. We have been carrying out training programs. We are almost there.”
The Delta State Director of the National Orientation Agency Mr Chris Anyabuine, pledged to support the Population Commission in the effort to achieve a detailed national database of the citizenry to aid policy planning and implementation.
“Our formations at the grassroots will be placed fully in the service of this particular assignment.”
A representative from the Directorate on Security Matters Mr Roland Odiete, who is a member of the Security and Logistics Committee, emphasized the importance of the census to national development while pledging the committee’s readiness to ensure the safety and movement of NPC staff and materials.
The State Commissioner of Police and the Delta State Commissioner for Information are both Co-Chairmen of the committees, alongside the National Commissioner, while the State Director of the NPC Mr. Patrick Lotobi, serves as Secretary.
