(UPDATED) 2023 Census: Stay in Lagos and be counted, Sanwo-Olu, NPC chairman appeal to Lagosians
Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isah Kwarra, on Tuesday, appealed to all Lagos residents to stay in Lagos and be counted during the 2023 census.
They also called for active participation of Lagosians in the exercise.
The duo explained that the exercise is important because it will provide the vital data and statistics in many areas that will enable the government to plan better and deliver more effective infrastructure and social services to the people of the state
While making the appeal at the stakeholders summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, at the Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja, the governor promised full support and commitment of the Lagos State government towards a successful census exercise.
Sanwo-Ou added that the last Nigerian census conducted in 2006 indicated that the population of Lagos State was 9,013,534, which was then reviewed upward to 12,772,884 in 2019, making our population the second largest in Nigeria, after Kano State.
He further said the planned 2023 Population and Housing Census, slated for April 2023, will be a digital census, adding data collected during the census will help the state make adequate planning for its residents
The governor launched the 2023 Census Implementation and Strategy Plan during the stakeholders’ meeting and announced the setting up of five additional committees in line with the National Population Commission’s strategy and vision in addition to the Technical Committee he set up last year.
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The new Committees are; Census Advisory Committee, Census Logistics Committee, Census Publicity and Advocacy Committee, Census Security Committee and Census Monitoring Group.
In his speech, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isah Kwarra, urged Lagos residents to stay in the state during the exercise for them to be counted so that data generated from the Census would be used for planning toward the growth and development of the State and the citizens.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Traditional Rulers and Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was represented by the Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, said data will help the government to plan and therefore urged all Lagos residents to participate in the 2023 census by ensuring that they stay and be counted in Lagos during the exercise.
He also urged the National Population Commission to share data with the subnational governments for adequate planning.
