NPC: IPOB not a threat to census in south-east

The National Population Commission (NPC) says the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will not be a threat to the forthcoming national population and housing census.  

The census is scheduled to hold from May 3-5, 2023. 

Speaking with NAN in Enugu on Sunday, Ejike Eze, NPC’s federal commissioner, said the group understands the need to allow the residents in the region to participate in the exercise.

Eze said the group also understands that any attempt against the success of the headcount will not help its course.  

The federal commissioner of the NPC said he had engaged IPOB in two LGAs in Enugu, during the demarcation of the areas in preparation for the headcount.

“IPOB has on its own embarked on advocacy to encourage people to participate in the census,” Eze said.

“We have been able to engage IPOB to convince it that its agitation requires information that the census would provide.’’

Eze dismissed calls for a shift in the dates of the exercise, saying the census is not the same as an election where there are competitors, winners and losers.

He added that the N869 billion budgeted for the exercise was not exorbitant when compared with the census budget of other countries.

“The U.S.A. spent between 12 dollars and 15 dollars (N5,760 –N7,200) to count a citizen, while Malawi spent nine dollars (N4,320) per citizen. In Nigeria, however, we are making a proposal to spend six dollars (N2,880) to count a citizen.”