NPC Plans Demographic Biometric Data For 2016 Census

The National Population Commission on Monday said plans were on to establish a globally accepted demographic biometric data for 2016 census in the country. The Chairman, National Population Commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, said this in Minna during a courtesy call to the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Odimegwu said that having a biometric data for 2016 census would help to eliminate any form of fraud or manipulation during the exercise.

“Using global best practises in technology and operational competencies will enhance a credible, accurate, auditable and acceptable demographic data and population register,” he said.
The chairman also said the plan would guarantee evidence-based planning and issuance of credible ID cards to all Nigerians.

Odimegwu said that there would be a cartographic digital imagery and photography for the 200,000 localities in the country, adding that the locality compendium and direction among others, would be published.

Earlier, Dr Festus Uzo, the Chairman, Technical Management Team of the commission, said that identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the 2006 census would enhance proper planning for 2016 census.
He said this at the opening of the commission's in-house workshop on the review and evaluation of the 2006 Population and Housing Census.

According to Uzo, the review will enable the commission have an appropriate methodology for the conduct of 2016 census and also articulate a road map for it.
“In this in-house critique, we shall be looking at the sectional prospective of the field experiences, beginning with the Evaluation Area Demarcation (EAD),” he said.

Uzo said the 2006 census instrument would be evaluated to ascertain its effectiveness.
He also said that the recruitment, training, and payment of the personnel would be evaluated to know if the desired result was achieved or not, and the lesson for the next census.

Uzo said the seven data processing centres in the country would be reviewed to know its role in the 2006 census exercise and its relevance in the advancing world of information technology.

Also, Gov. Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, said that amnesty was not the final solution to the security challenge facing the country, though a part of peace building process.

He said that without adequate security, economic and demographic data, there would be no proper population and housing census in 2016.

The governor said that to achieve the country's lofty objective of 20:2020 vision, there must be an acceptable population profile to guide in the planning for the future.

Aliyu enjoined the commission to sensitise the public on the need to establish demographic biometric data-based evidence in the country.
“We should all endeavour to rally round all levels of the government, institutions, traditional rulers, religious, cultural institutions and civil-based organisations to ensure maximum support to the exercise.”

NAN reports that commissioners from the 36 states were also in attendance at the courtesy calls to the two former Heads of State: Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who respectively, pledged their support to the commission.

The in-house workshop on the review and evaluation of the 2006 Population and Housing census will last for five days. (NAN)



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