From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Ohinoyi of Ebira, His Royal Magesty, King Ado Ibrahim has observed that no nation world over, can grow without accurate population of its citizens.
The royal father made the observation when the Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission in-charge of Kogi , Professor Jimoh Isah who was on sensitization tour of the Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2023 Census called on him at his Palace in Okene on Thursday.
Ado Ibrahim challenged the NPC to strive to rewrite the wrongs of the past and endeavour to conduct credible and accurate census that will be of international standard and acceptable to all Nigerians.
He noted that Nigeria as one of the third world countries is still lagging behind in terms of meeting up with conducting correct population headcount.
“The ball is now on the court of the NPC to use the opportunity of the upcoming 2023 census to do the needful in satisfying the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians on its mandate” Ohinoyi charged.
Ado Ibrahim pleaded with the Media to endeavour to live up to its social responsibility of enlightenment and sensitization of citizens on the value of population count.
Responding, the Federal Commissioner of NPC in-charge of Kogi told the royal father that he and NPC officials were in his domain for rigorous Advocacy visit to sensitise the people on what is required of them during the upcoming census in Nigeria.
He said that it is the duty of NPC to persuade the people to ensure that they are being counted during the exercise coming up between February, March and April next year.
Professor Jimoh Isah also informed His Royal Magesty that in course of their visit, a Town Hall meeting will be held for critical stakeholders in the Central Senatorial District as part of the NPC activities to ensure resounding success in the conduct of both the trial and main census.
He also briefed His Royal Magesty on what the commission has been able to do so far and the tasks ahead with assurance that the commission will not relent in achieving the desired result at the end of the exercise.
Also speaking at the Town Hall meeting organized for critical stakeholders in the zone, the NPC Commissioner told the gathering that they should co-operate in working round the clock towards the success of the trial census billed to begin in July and the main headcount for 2023.
He explained that the trial census which will be conducted in nine selected local government areas of Kogi is aimed at testing the techniques and methodologies to be used during the 2023 census.
Professor Jimoh Isah noted that the roles of traditional rulers, opinion moulders, Community and religious leaders in the success of the headcount exercise can’t be over emphasized and admonished them to strive to live up to their tasks.
In his contributions during the Town Hall meeting, the Obabanyi of Ehima, Chief Onimisi Samuel who represented the Ohinoyi of Ebira, promised adequate mobilization of the royal fathers towards the success of the upcoming census.
According to the traditional ruler “There is quite a number of benefits of population count. It helps in effective planning for development and provision of social amenities to all communities across the country”
He directed other traditional rulers in the zone to ensure that all their subjects were mobilized for the headcount.
The representative of Okene Local Government Chairman, Mohammed Musa while speaking during the meeting, lauded the NPC for its efforts so far to conduct a resounding census with an assurance to complement in logistics support.