Make sure you are counted in the 2023 census, NOA advises Nigerians.

Nigerians have been urged by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to make themselves available for counting during the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

On Sunday in Abuja, Dr. Garba Abari, the Director-General of NOA, made the announcement.

According to NAN, preparations are being made for the May population and housing census.

Abari, a participant in the census’ National Publicity and Advocacy Committee, stated that the activity is scheduled to start on May 3.

Thus, he made an appeal to the media to aid in spreading awareness among Nigerians of the significance of showing up when the headcount starts.

He said ‘’I urge Nigerians to participate fully in the exercise so as to avail the country of the benefits that can be derived from the population and housing census.

‘’Nigerians, please remember you count, so come out and be counted. Census is for all of us and census is for development and development is all we need.’’

He emphasized the need of the census for planning and development at the national level, but he also stressed the necessity for reliable data that would be believable and accepted, adding that “in this day and age, we cannot be planning on the basis on conjectures.”

The NOA boss said that the exercise’s use of technology will increase its legitimacy and acceptability.

“The technology to be deployed will make it difficult for anyone to manipulate the process.

“No doubt, the exercise will be different from previous ones because we are advancing through the use of modern technologies,’’ he said.

He continued, assuring Nigerians not to anticipate manipulations in the upcoming census, as every building in the nation had thus far been coded for the purpose.

He reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to mobilizing Nigerians for the exercise through effective sensitization.

Despite the difficulties the nation is facing, he said, the Federal Government’s selection of the 2023 census as a priority program highlights the need for Nigerians to take part in the exercise.

“We will make sure that all Nigerians are adequately educated to be properly tallied,” he continued.

‘’We need to sensitise the population to know the importance of the national population census.

‘’This is for the purpose of planning, legislative representation and insecurity that will reflect the peculiarity of our national demography— men, women, youths and children per local government, state and geo political zone.

‘’Be assured of the commitment to conduct a credible digital census in the country,’’ Abari said.