Nigeria moves for accurate population census

Ahead of Nigeria’s next population census, the National Population Commission (NPC) has concluded plans to visit India soon to under-study her population enumeration system and accuracy of figures.

President of Indian Universities Alumni Association in Nigeria, Dr Collin Onyeze, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the move would ensure Nigeria’s accurate population statistics.

Onyeze, who said that the association was working closely with NPC for the visit, said that it was imperative for Nigeria to have an accurate population figure devoid of politics, religion and ethnicity.

“We strongly believe that there is a lot for our dear country, Nigeria, to learn from her long time partner, India.

“We have been consulting for the Nigerian Population Commission (NPC) on the possibility of the commission to visit India to study her
population recording system.

“Let me say that we have been able to facilitate the visit of NPC to India this year,’’ he said.

Onyeze commended the understanding, foresightedness, commitment and professionalism of the current management of the commission for buying into the initiative.

The association’s president expressed optimism that the visit would expose and equip NPC with a result-oriented system of population
census for Nigeria.

Onyeze also commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing effort at promoting closer ties with India, adding that both countries had had long relations.

“What we should know as a country is that no country is an Island of development. We should continue to learn from one another.

“And President Buhari, I must say, has started well. He recently visited India with some Ministers and Governors.

“There is a further way of cementing the long existing harmonious relationship between Nigeria and India,’’ he said.