IPOB not a threat to 2023 census in southeast – NPC
The Indigenous People of Biafra won’t pose a threat to the 2023 national population and housing census, which is slated to take place from May 3 to May 5, according to the National Population Commission.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Enugu, the Federal Commissioner of the NPC in Enugu State, Mr. Ejike Eze, provided the assurance.
Eze claimed that the group had a sufficient understanding of the necessity to include residents in the exercise for it to be successful, since doing otherwise would not advance its goals.
He stated that during the demarcation of the zones prior to the headcount, the NPC and IPOB had confrontations in two local government areas of Enugu State. However, the government’s intervention rectified the problems.
“IPOB has started its own lobbying campaign to entice individuals to take part in the census.
We were able to convince IPOB that the census will offer the data that it needs for its agitation, Eze stated.
He rejected requests to move the census’s dates, arguing that there are no competitors, victors, or losers in the census, unlike in an election.
The N869 billion budgeted for the exercise was the least when compared to the budgets of other nations, according to Eze, who also rejected suggestions that it was excessive.
“The cost to count a citizen in the United States ranged from $12 to $15 (N5,760 to N7,200), whereas the cost to count a person in Malawi was $9 (N4,320).
However, we are proposing in Nigeria that it cost six dollars (N2,880) to count a citizen.
NAN
