By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, called on the National Population Commission, NPC, to conduct a mini census in the FCT to ensure adequate planning of infrastructures such as schools, roads and health facilities to cater for the needs of the people, as has pledged the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s support for the success of the upcoming 2022 National Census exercise.
Bello made these request and pledge when he received a delegation from National Population Commission (NPC) led by its Executive Chairman, Honourable Nasir Isa Kwarra visited the FCTA.
The minister who emphazied the importance of the census exercise at both levels for planning purposes said that a census for the FCT would enable the Administration carry out data based planning.
He expressed FCTA’s appreciation to NPC in it’s efforts at giving accurate data in the face of the rising growth of the FCT population of which is required for the purposes of matching physical expansion with the rising population.
He told the NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra that the FCT mini census would aid planning of infrastructures like schools, roads and for building of health facilities to cater for the need of residents.
The Minister assured that the FCTA through the office of the Honourable Minister of State, will work with the Area Council Chairmen and all the 17 graded chiefs in the FCT, especially in the area of security, staff accommodation, transportation and field personnel, to ensure the success of National Census exercise in the FCT.
Executive Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra , had solicited the support of the FCTA for the success of the 2022 National Census.
The Chairman commended the Minister for the tremendous transformation in infrastructure that the FCT has undergone since his assumption to office, adding that the minister has lived up to the promise of building a new FCT that will be the source of joy for its inhabitants and Nigeria”.Meanwhile another delegation from the FCT Office of the National Population Commission, led by the Federal Commissioner representing the FCT in the Commission, Honourable Joseph Shazin Kwali visited the minister.
Kwali assured the minister that all critical infrastructure and tools have been developed preparatory to the 2022 census.
According to Kwali such tools include the demarcation of enumeration areas, the development of draft census questionnaires and all other relevant documents in the conduct of the first pretest to ascertain the efficacy of the census tools ae already developed as well as their readiness for deployment during the census.
Those at the event were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu and other senior officials of the FCTA.
