Census: Don’t repeat mistake of 2006, Abiodun cautions NPC

Governor Dapo Abiodun has cautioned the National Population Commission (NPC) against repeating “mistakes” of 2006 as the body prepares for the 2023 census.

He also called for a credible enumeration exercise that would form the basis for equitable management and distribution of financial resources in the country.

Abiodun made this known while receiving the Chairman of the (NPC) Nasir Isa Kwarra, at his office Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday.

He noted that the population enumeration exercise “is an extremely important exercise that is fundamental to the socioeconomic planning and development of the country.”

The governor said, “I hope we do not have a repeat of what happened in 2006, where someone will tell you, okay, I am here, we have six other people here inside my house and then you say okay, seven people, you just enumerate them without confirming. I hope this will actually ensure that everybody is counted so we can have a basis for the equitable management and distribution of financial resources in this country.

“The census is an extremely important exercise, the last exercise was conducted about sixteen years back and we know from all indications that our population has since exploded and census is very fundamental to socioeconomic planning.

“I want to assure you that, we will support you, if needed, financial resources and human resources and any other material resources will be provided. We have already intimated our traditional leaders,our religious leaders, our CDCs and CDAs of this impending exercise. And our civil society, I am sure that they are all willing and ready to be worthy partners in this worthy cause.”