NIGERIAN ARMY PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR SUCCESSFUL 2023 CENSUS

The Nigerian Army (NA) has pledged continuous support to the National Population Commission (NPC) to enable it to conduct the forthcoming 2023 census successfully.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, made the pledge when the Chairman of National Population Commission, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, led a delegation comprising Federal Commissioners and Directors of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Expressing the readiness of the NA to support the Commission in its effort to conduct the 2023 census, the COAS gave assurance that the NA will provide requisite support to the Commission through the deployment of troops and adequate security to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.

"The NA will provide adequate security and support to the staff of the commission and free access to NA Barracks across formations and units", he stated.

Lt. General Lagbaja also expressed the Nigerian Army's interest in collaborating with the NPC in other areas of interest beyond the census.

Earlier, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, who felicitated with the Army Chief on his appointment, lauded the effort of the NA in tackling security challenges in the country. He added that the NA is a major stakeholder in the conduct of the forthcoming 2023 census, hence the need to acquaint the COAS with the progress in preparation for the forthcoming census. He solicited the collaboration of the military in security-related areas during the exercise.

Hon Kwarra described the NPC as a constitutional body saddled with statutory powers to collect, analyse and disseminate population and demographic data in the country. The Chairman stated that the Commission has laid the basic foundation by conducting the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the entire country into smaller units and in the process captured all buildings with the geo-coordinates.

He noted that the essence of the demarcation is to help in planning the human and material resources, which are to be deployed to particular areas for the purpose of the census.

The visit to the Chief of Army Staff is part of the NPC's ongoing strategic engagement with key stakeholders ahead of the census.

The meeting was a positive step towards ensuring the security of the upcoming census. The support of the Nigerian Army will be crucial to the success of the exercise, and the NPC is grateful for the COAS's commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for the census.

However, the NPC is also working to address other challenges that could hinder the success of the census, such as funding and logistics. The Commission is confident that with the support of all stakeholders, the 2023 Population and Housing Census will be a success.