By SALAWU PATIENCE
Kogi State Government says it will continue to support the National Population Commission (NPC) towards successful census exercise in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications Hon. Kingsley Fanwo gave the assurance while receiving the Federal Commissioner of NPC, Professor H I Jimoh, ably represented by the State Director, Mr Abiodun Ojo in his office in Lokoja.
Hon. Kingsley Fanwo said the present administration, under Governor Yahaya Bello, has total passion for the wellbeing of the people in the state, adding that the ministry will work collectively with the commission to conduct a successful Population Census.
According to the Hon. Commissioner, the ministry will also sensitize the citizens of the state on the importance of census.
He stated further that the NPC is one of the critical exercises of any nation which has to do with planning, growth and development through which credible data are gathered.
“Data capturing is the fuel of development and when data is compromised, there is no steady development”, the Hon. Commissioner said.
Hon. Kingsley Fanwo added that all efforts will be put in place to support the NPC to educate the people to ensure the census is a huge success in the state and thanked them for their visit.
In his response, the State Director of NPC Mr Abiodun Ojo stated that they were in the commissioner’s office to intimate him of the postponement of the census exercise nationwide.
The NPC State Director disclosed that the 2023 Census exercise was not cancelled but postponed as a result of the transition in government to the new administration.
He expressed appreciation to the Hon. Commissioner for the warm reception and promised to ensure that the NPC conducts a free, fair and credible census in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
