By Emmanuel Omoghene,
FEDERAL Commissioner representing Delta state at the National Population Commission, NPopC, Sir, Richard Odibo has appeal to the people of Udu and Deltans in general to make themselves available and give useful information when staff of the commission approaches them for data collection.
He made this appeal on the occasion of the flagging off Enumeration Area Demacators, EAD, exercise at Udu Local Government Area of Delta. state.
Addressing community leaders and stakeholders at Otor-Udu community Town hall, Sir. Odibo said, “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the flag off of ‘Enumeration Area Demarcators’ EAD, phase 8 of which Udu local government area is selected in Delta state.
“Enumeration Area Demarcation,(E.A.D) is simply the division of the country into small units that can be conveniently covered by a pair of Enumerators during the census period.
“And it may interest you to know we have demarcated Uvwie, Isoko North, Ukwani local governments and Udu is the 4th local government to be demarcated in Delta state and I am appealing to you as stakeholders and especially our community leaders here to give to staff of the commission accurate and reliable data for planning.
According to the Federal Commissioner, “One of the Commissions ‘Core Mandate is to provide accurate and reliable data for planning and this we cannot achieve without your cooperation.
“And It is on this note I wish to appeal to you all as stakeholders by allowing the demarcators to move freely within and from your community for the exercise.
“Give them access to buildings/housing units in order to number them for a successful demarcation exercise and respond truthfully to inquiries from the demarcators. Provide adequate security for the functionaries and their equipment during the period of the exercise, local guides should also be provided that would lead them.
While congratulating those who were nominated as functionaries for the exercise, Sir Odibo said, “I urge you all to see it as a privilege to be invited and you are to take the training seriously because the final selection would depend on your performance and I expects you all to do a good job because I would not want to be invited for questioning.
“All necessary arrangement have been put in place by the federal government for the exercise and I will appeal you provide them with with the locals that know the terrain to lead them”.
Sir Odibo however warned the people not to interfere in the process so that the commission and functionaries could carry out the job professionally.
“The commission should be allowed to carry out their duties professionally so as to give room for the frame that would form the basis of pre-successful census outcome”.
Also, the Honourable Federal commissioner said, the Commission is in collaboration with the United Nation’s Children and Educational fund (UNICEF) would embark on registration of birth for children between the age of 0-5years and would be issued with birth certificates instantly during the period of this exercise.
“We therefore urge you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to register all children within the above stated age because if any child is not registered with commission and issued certificate, such child or person would not be regarded as a Nigerian citizen”.
