Census pre-test begins June 6

The first pre-test for upcoming census begins on June 6 in 112 local government areas nationwide.

The pretest will last until June 13, according to the National Population Commission.

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The pretest is a critical part of census planning process which provides the opportunity to test all aspects of the census programme and instruments in advance of the main census activities, thus ensuring smooth operation and success of the census.

The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Isa Kwarra, told a news conference in Abuja, “This exercise is aimed at testing the manuals for field staff, instruction manuals, data editing and coding, data processing and tabulation in preparation for actual census.

“In the pre-test exercise, some selected Enumeration Areas (EAs) in some of the local governments in states of the federation demarcated between 2016 and 2018 will be utilised.

“And the census instruments will be deployed to these areas to test run their suitability and readiness for actual census,” he said.

The chairman reiterated that the exercise was aimed at assessing quality and usefulness of the Enumeration Area (EA) maps already created.

Kwarra, who solicited for collective efforts of Nigerians in making the exercise a success, noted that it was designed to test run the viability of already Demarcated Enumeration Areas (EADs) in readiness for smooth census.

He said that the pre-test was in line with the mandate of the commission in creating good foundation for the next credible and reliable population and housing census. (NAN)