By Praise Chinecherem
Communities in Anambra State have assured the National Population Commission (NPC) support and cooperation to ensure a successful and hitch-free trial census as well as the 2023 population and housing census.
The communities gave the assurance during advocacy visits by the NPC to the various council headquarters the Idemili South Local Government Area as part of activities to sensitize the locals ahead of the exercise slated for next month.
Idemili South had been selected as one of the six local governments across the country for the exercise.
The stakeholders expressed joy over the defacto innovation in the exercise, which would capture the citizens irrespective of their places of residence.
Speaking at Alor, one of the communities in Idemili South, President General, Alor Peoples Convention Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, said the defacto innovation would correct the anomaly experiences in previous censuses.
He also promised they would not interfere with the process, as long as it would be seemless.
He said, “In the previous census, you hear that Anambra population is 2m, Lagos is 10m, Kanu 15m, but if you look at the nitty gritty, those who make up the Lagos population are the Igbos.
“So the innovation in the coming census where individuals state of origin and their location are indicated will definitely correct the anomaly as the innovation will prove the exact number of population in the area.
“Besides, the risk involved in mass travelling of persons for the sake of census will be eliminated by the seemless innovation.”
Earlier, Federal Commissioner representating Anambra State in the Commission, Mr Chidi Ezeoke, challenged the people of the area to take the exercise seriously in view of its expected effects on the country’s socio- economic planning.
The Director of NPC in Anambra State, Doctor Joachim Okwuchukwu Ulasi, on his part urged the stakeholders to help the commission in the sensitization exercise to avoid apathy during the programme.
