The National Population Commission (NPC) has inaugurated security, logistics and publicity committees in Plateau ahead of the 2023 national population and housing census.

NPC federal commissioner in the state, Cecilia Dapoet, said during the inauguration in Jos on Monday that the committees were set up to programme and control information flow for public awareness and ensure security for even distribution of men and materials needed for the census.

According to her, the 19-member committee on census publicity can mobilise citizens for the all-important national project.

“Similarly, the 17-man committee on security and logistics consists of professionals in relevant fields, whose role is significant to the success of the census,” she said.

Ms Dapoet said the 2023 census should represent a sense of renewed hope for the people of the state and provide an opportunity to correct the errors of the past that were greeted with protests following the outcome of the 2006 census that claimed the state was undercounted.

She appealed to stakeholders to contribute their quota in ensuring every person was counted, promising that the NPC in Plateau would organise a credible census.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, while inaugurating the committees, charged members to be committed to discharging their duties and ensuring smooth and successful exercise.

Mr Lalong, represented by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Danladi Atu, said the census had many advantages, such as providing clear demographic and socio-economic data of the people, thereby helping in planning and decision making.

He added that the committees were saddled with carrying out public enlightenment and soliciting support for the census and its processes.

Others are: mobilising resources and materials, promoting institutional collaboration and implementing effective publicity strategies for the census.

“The Security and Logistics Committee will help in maintaining public peace and order around census activities and personnel.

“It will also help in securing National Population Commission offices, vehicles and equipment, among others,” he said.

The chairman of the publicity committee, Dan Manjang, in an acceptance speech, promised to work dutifully for the success of the census.

The census will be held from May 3 to 7.

The Kaduna Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), has inaugurated media and publicity and security committees for the May 2023 population and housing census in the state.

Inaugurating the committees in Kaduna on Thursday, Umma Aboki, PBC commissioner, explained that the committees would ensure a hitch-free census.

Ms Aboki explained that she would chair the media and publicity committee, with the deputy director of state planning, as the secretary.

She identified other committee members as the commissioner for human services and social development and special adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on media and communication.

They also include the zonal manager of the News Agency of Nigeria, the zonal director of the National Television Authority, the zonal manager of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and the state director of the National Orientation Agency.

Others are the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and the co-chair of the Open Government Partnership.

According to Ms Aboki, the committee will be responsible for awareness creation and community mobilisation for the exercise.

“The committee will also develop television and radio jingles, carry out media engagements and carry out community sensitisation and advocacy to relevant community stakeholders for a hitch-free exercise,” she stated.