….over 23,000 enumerators needed to conduct headcount in Borno
From Olatunji Omirin, Maiduguri
The National Population Commission (NPC) has revealed that it will commence the demarcation of Abadam local government and other security compromised areas that have not captured in Borno state.
Federal Commissioner in charge of Borno state, Alhaji Isa Buratai made disclosure this during a media briefing in Maiduguri that Abadam is the only council in the country that are yet be captured.
He said Abadam, a border town with Niger Republic, is the only local government in the country where enumeration area demarcation was not carried out because of insecurity.
He added that over 23,000 enumerators are required to conduct the headcount in the twenty seven local governments, noting that the Commission will continue with the mobilisation and sensitisation campaign towards the census proper.
“Our plan is to commence the demarcation of Abadam local government and other areas had security challenges before, this will help capture everyone. As we speak now the security had improve in those areas,”he revealed
Buratai explained that the Commission will utilize the opportunity of the shift in date for the population and housing census to conclude the exercise now that relative relative peace has returned to the areas.
He assured that no area in the state that will be left not captured.
“Let me use this opportunity to confirm to you that only 7% of the land mass in Borno state that have not been demarcated. This is because of obvious reasons and we will try our best to use the opportunity of the shift to capture the remaining areas” Buratai assured.
On the state of preparedness of the Commission in the state, the Federal Commissioner said it has conducted two pre-test and trial census and the result shows that the National Population Commission is ready for the exercise.
Buratai commended Borno state government, Shehu of Borno and other traditional rulers, security agencies and other stakeholders for their enormous support throughout the period.
