From Audu Joe, Lokoja
The National Population Commission, Kogi state, has joined its counterparts across the country in the conduct of Pre-test exercise as part of its preparation to create good foundation for the next Population and Housing Census in Nigeria.
The Federal Commissioner of the Commission in Kogi, Professor Jimoh Isah, at a Press Conference on Tuesday, disclosed that the exercise which will last for one week is currently taking place at selected sample areas in Ogori/Mangogo, Ijumu and Olamaboro Local Government Areas of the state.
The Federal Commissioner said that the work plan of the Commission kick-started with enumeration demarcation in 2015 and now followed by the first stage of Pre-test, all geared towards ensuring the successful conduct of the actual census that will be credible, reliable and acceptable to the country and other stakeholders.
According to the Federal Commissioner “The conduct of Pre-test which is the stage we are now, is aimed at testing the census methodology, the questionnaires, data processing and tabulation in preparation for the actual census. In this Pre-test exercise, some selected Enumeration Areas (EAs) in some of the LGAs in States of the Federation demarcated between 2016-2018 will be utilised and the census instruments will be deployed to these areas to test run their suitability and readiness for the actual census”
Professor Isah hinted that the exercise would be conducted between 6th to 13th of this month in all the 36 States of the Federation and FCT.
He appealed to the respondents in the selected LGAs and EAs to extend maximum cooperation to the interviewers and answer all questions truthfully adding that all information volunteered would be treated with utmost confidentiality and would not be divulged for any other purpose.
The Federal Commissioner also pleaded with the State Government, Local Government Councils, Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders and Religious Leaders to support the Commission in this noble task.
Professor Isah appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state in his aggressive fight against insecurity which he said provided the Commission a safe and conducive environment to operate with ease.
He however, charged the Media not to relent in its constitutional duties of mobilizing the general public through adequate publicity and enlightenment on the gains of the 1st Pre-test exercise.