The Chairman, National Population Commission, Hon Nasir Isa Kwara has called on the Nigerian Army to assist the commission with the provision of soldiers to secure its personnel carrying out demarcation and enumeration exercises of wards across the country towards achieving its mandate of conducting a successful census for the country.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya on Tuesday, Hon Kwara said commended the Army for its invaluable assistance so far noting that with such assistance, the Commission has been able to carry out its work in 772 LGAs across the country, remaining only two.
He said, “I want to thank you for the assistance you are rendering to the Commission. Our job is to provide data for planning national development. Our job entails a lot of field work. But because of the current security challenges, we cannot go to anywhere without your men”.
“That is why we are thanking youfor the security you are providing for the nation and for our staff. The enumeration/demarcation for the country is for 774 LGAs. We have so far conducted the exercise in 772, except 2 LGAs, Birnin Gwari in Kaduna and Abadam in Borno.
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“We only did demarcation in two wards in in Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state while we still have four wards yet to be done. In Borno, the situation in Abadam is difficult because the people have been displaced as a result of insurgency delay in their relocation back.
“So we need the support of the Army for the exercise to be concluded.
Continuing Hon Kwara said, “Mr. President has given his approval and so we are going to conduct trial Census by the end of June. As for the main census, we are looking forward to March and April next year. So we are seeking adequate security cover for our staff. We like to partner with the army in this regard”.
Responding, the COAS, Lt. Gen Yahara said population census is a a very important ingredient in our national development aspirations.
He appreciated the efforts of the Commission even as he pledged of the Nigerian Army continouos support, any time because their job is a national mandate
“There is a standing instruction for all military formations to support all national agencies of government to enable them fulfill national mandates
On conducting census in the barracks, Gen Yahaya said, “We should not have challenges for census in the barracks. So you are free to carry out demarcation and enumeration in all barracks. The Nigerian Army is for Nigeria, so anything that we facilitate your work, we are for it.
