NPC begins pre-test, says digital population census realistic by May 2022

At the commencement of the second Training of the Trainers (ToT) pre-test exercise, yesterday, Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, said the programme will begin from December 3, 2021, to December 10, 2021, in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking in Nasarawa State, Kwarra said: “The second pre-test ToT workshop is designed to train facilitators, who will, in turn, carry out zonal level training of enumerators and other field functionaries in readiness for the second census pre-test fieldwork.

“Pre-test is usually conducted before the actual census and is primarily aimed at testing the census methodology, questionnaires, data collection methods, manual for fieldwork and so on.”

Also, NPC’s chairman, Census Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Rivers, Dr. Ipalibo Harry, said the first-ever digital population census is realistic by May 2022.

“We are ready to give the country a first-ever digital census by May 2022. We have the maps and data in our system: androids, which, unlike the analogue era, will make it very easy for a reliable and credible census,” he said.

The census committee chairman, who expressed optimism in President Muhammadu Buhari’s willingness to make a proclamation for the exercise, said the commission is prepared.

He pledged his capacity to tackle insecurity in all states of the federation during the census.

Also speaking, Mrs. Elizabeth Idoko, Director of Census at the commission, expressed the staff’s preparedness for the conduct of a credible exercise next year.