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The 2023 population and housing census exercise was subsequently postponed by President Muhammadu Buhari's government, according to the National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State, which claimed it is presently examining the methods and actions previously established to conduct it.
This information was provided by Chief Benedict Ukpong, National Population Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, during a discussion with state media representatives on Tuesday at the Breakforth Hotel in Uyo. Ukpong stated: "The processes and systems put in place for the census are therefore being reviewed to determine what needs to be done to ensure that the preparations do not become obsolete for the census.
"The commission's main goal is to protect all of the resources used thus far and prevent the necessity for the country to start again when the census is to be performed."
Ukpong also emphasized that the Enumeration Area Maps (EAM) produced from the exercise are ready for the execution of the census in the state and that the commission has successfully demarcated all localities (villages) in the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom, including the coastal communities, oil platforms, and other difficult-to-reach areas.
The federal commissioner asked the next administration to build on the work of the outgoing one and focus on the 2023 census since it is in the national interest, progress, and development. He lamented that the state had not yet officially launched the exercise's statutory security and logistic committee.
Dr. Udeme Nnanna, the exercise's originator and a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, advised participants not to bother traveling to their hometowns because they would be apprehended wherever they resided. The Akwa Ibom administration was advised to work with the commission for the benefit of the people as he charged NPC with bringing its advocacy to rural areas.
Amos Etuk, the head of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), urged the government to use the census to gain the public's trust while promising the support of the media to the NPC.
