NPC Flags off EAD: Promises to right the wrongs in Nasarawa

From Francis Nansak,Lafia

The National Population Commission (NPC) has promised to right the wrongs in the population of Nasarawa state,as it flagged off the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD)exercise .

The chairman of the commission, Honourable Nasir Isa Kwarra,represented by the federal commissioner,representing Benue state, Barrister ,Orih Ochini stated,this on Wednesday in Lafia the Nasarawa state capital,to mark the 11th Phase of the EAD exercise.

Honourable Nasir Kwarra said,a total of 260 LGAs across the country have been successfully demarcated including the FCT ,in the previous 10th phases and that this is the 11th phase beginning on 9th December 2020 ,which will end on 20th January 2021,which will include training and fieldwork.

According to him, training of trainers with other technical officers for the EAD has just been completed at Akwanga,in Nasarawa state,while the states training for demarcaors will kick-off nation wide from Thursday 9th December 2020.

“Planning for census is anchored on EAD ,as the basis for estimating both the human and material resources required for census,in essence, the success of a credible and accurate census depends very much on the quality and reliability of the EAD.

” It is however necessary to state unambiguously that EAD exercise is not the Enumeration of persons living in the country,it’s outcome is in no way the determinant of population any localty,local government area,or state.

” But EAD is simply a preparatory activity before the actual census Enumeration” The chairman said.

Stressing the importance of the EAD exercise, Honourable Nasir Kwarra , explained that the process being the foundation for census ,the National sample frame for the country is created from EAD,which is the one that is used by all Data collecting organizations , including MDAs and research institutes.

He also opined further that the frame is also used by international agencies , including the IMF and the World bank to monitor the economic and Financial performance of a country.

He continued that EAD being the source of the National sample frame,there are several other deliverables from the ongoing EAD that includes an up to date list of Households, buildings ,socio-economic infrastructural facilities and their geo-reference distribution across localities,wards,LGAs and states.

The National chairman also pointed out that ” The independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is currently into a special arrangement with the National Population Commission in which NP. Is assisting the INEC to create digitized maps of INEC registration” He added.

On his part Nasarawa state Governor,Engineer Abdullahi Sule ,harped on the importance of census, with a special mention of Nasarawa state ,saying going by the last conduct of census in the country the total population for the state was estimated to be a little over 1.8 million people since 2006, adding that that has been the figure in used.

Governor Sule said the figure is grossly under estimated,pointing out that,just within Karu,from Maraba,Panda and Karshi,before reaching Keffi,the population is much more than 1.8 million people.

He however said the continuous used of that figure by the government ,is completely denying the state of a lot of opportunities.

” But let me tell you that we have not rested since we came on board as a government,we had worked hard to ensure that we are properly captured and I belief that if there is any state that is short charged is Nasarawa state.More than any state in the country.

“So when my younger brother ,the former deputy governor, mentioned the civic registration and vital statistics,clearly stating that Nasarawa state is the only state that has not done it,which all these started between 2018 and 2019, we can’t give excuses that it was during election period,after all,30 states were also under going election period,so was at the same time Nasarawa state was missing so many areas of interventions.

” One of such opportunities is called SEFTA ,which is actually free money and all it takes is for a government to be transparent and SEFTA will give you that money I was in a governor’s meeting ,when the world bank came addressing us , mentioning states that were going to benefit from that money,I was ready to take it,only to be told that Nasarawa state was not qualified.

Ten,ten million dollars,but we were not qualified,however ,the goodness today is that for the first time, Nasarawa state have just received its own and I have directed the state accountant general never to touch the money for anything,but we will used it for dedicated projects and Programmes that will impact in the lives of our people” Governor Sule directed.

Earlier, in a opening remark, Honourable Silas Agara,the federal commissioner, representing Nasarawa state and the immediate past governor of the state,thanked the state governor for his show of commitment and dedication to host the exercise in the state.

According to him,for the Governor to host the Programme indicated that this time around Nasarawa state is ready to get it right.

He said, one of the Cardinal objective of the National Population Commission is to get the proper population and housing census and the demographic data ,which is all about planning purposes.

Agara further explained that NPC is working towards the second phase of EAD” Today,we are marking the 11th phases of the EAD exercise here in Lafia,but before now we have had 5 local government areas that have had the EAD exercise ,like Awe,Obi ,Keffi, Wamba and Akwanga,with remaining 2 LGAs ” The commissioner concluded.