By Robinson Erebi
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Hon. Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Population Commission in Bayelsa State, Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo, mni, has reiterated the irrevocable commitment of the Commission to positively rewrite the history of Censuses in Nigeria by delivering an accurate, reliable and acceptable Census that will be purposefully relevant in the drive towards sustainable national development.
Mrs. Izonfuo made the statement while addressing participants in a workshop on “The Bayelsa State Compendium of Localities” organized by the National Population Commission Bayelsa State in collaboration with other Stakeholders to finalize and present to the grassroots the final list of localities for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Yenagoa.
The Honourable Federal Commissioner said that the objective of the Compendium of localities Workshop is to present all the localities demarcated during the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) on Local Government Area basis showing the coverage and location on interactive maps to stakeholders, stressing that soft copy of the Locality list will also be given to participants at this workshop.
Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo explained that the Localities will be compiled into a National Compendium after due presentation and validation by Stakeholders.
“The final Compendium of locality which will be presented to the President before the 2023 Population and Housing Census is intended to be approved with the consensus of stakeholders as the Gazetteer of Place Names for the Country”.
“With the huge resources that the Government has expended on the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), we are happy that the National Population Commission has, through the EAD, produced a lot of data sets such as the Compendium of localities that will be useful for National development”.
“With the huge resources that the Government has expended on the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), we are happy that the National Population Commission has, through the EAD, produced a lot of data sets such as the Compendium of localities that will be useful for National development”, she said
Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo further explained that besides being a tool for National development, the Compendium of locality in Census taking is also a tool for Census data dissemination. The 2023 Population and Housing Census results will be released up to the lowest level of the Census entities which could be as small as a fishing camp. This underscores the essence of getting a comprehensive list of localities.
According to her, the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercises collected data on all localities with a standard definition of locality as a distinct population cluster in which the inhabitants live in neighbouring sets of living quarters, has a name or a locally recognized status.
Mrs. Izonfuo emphasized that a Locality includes fishing camps, hamlets, mining camps, ranches, farms, market towns, villages, towns, cities and many other population clusters, that more Localities do not translate to higher population for the LGA.
“Preparations for the 2023 Population and Housing Census are on course and the Commission is confident that the prospect for an accurate and reliable census appears brighter than ever”.
“The National Population Commission in Bayelsa State is mindful of the fact that a successful Census in the State is only possible when stakeholders at all levels key into and adopt the Census project”, she stated.
The Honourable Federal Commissioner also implored all participants at the workshop, from Sister agencies and the Heads of the various Local Governments to work with the National Population Commission to achieve excellent result that will add more value to the Census process and indeed the socio-economic development of Bayelsa State.
“Getting the 2023 Population and Housing Census right is a task that must be done and the Commission is committed to ensuring that everything about the census is done rightly and professionally”, she said.
