Former Governor of Kaduna State and civil rights activist, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) has faulted the decision of the Federal Government to conduct a national census next year despite the precarious situation in the country.

Umar, who is also the National Chairman of the Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), in a statement yesterday, described the decision as a misplaced priority, noting that it must be rejected.

According to him, “for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to have sought and gotten the approval of the National Council of State to conduct national census in April 2023 must have come as a great shock to most well meaning Nigerians.”

He said the action of the government showed that the leadership was not sensitive to the plight of Nigerians under the prevailing security and economic challenges, adding that “a country that is facing existential challenges such as unprecedented level of insecurity, collapsing economy cannot have as one of its priorities the conduct of a national census.”

He added: “We therefore urge the Buhari administration to suspend what will amount to misadventure and waste of scarce national resources.

“This administration should focus all its attention on securing the nation and conducting the 2023 elections. A national census at this point is certainly not a priority assuming that its conduct is possible.”