Census: Ensure You Are Counted, Federal Govt Tells Nigerians
Nigerians were asked by the Federal Government on Thursday to be available for the May National Population and Housing Census.
At a town hall meeting on the census that was organized by the National Publicity Committee in Kano, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the demand.
The census was intended to collect data for efficient national planning, according to the minister, who was represented by Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
He denied claims made on several social media platforms that the census questions will determine the respondents’ religion.
Mohammed emphasized that the information was only used for national planning and growth and to strengthen the country’s security infrastructure.
He claimed that the purpose of the town hall gathering was to raise the necessary awareness of the impending exercise.
He emphasized that in order to achieve a smooth exercise, the stakeholders were invited to get information and comments from the grassroots.
The minister added that the PR team was putting a lot of effort into combating false information and rumors about the exercise.
Speaking with NAN, some of the attendees suggested that the National Population Commission launch more awareness-raising campaigns.
On May 3, the National Housing and Population Census would start.
(NAN)
