‘2023 Census Must Be Credible’

Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has tasked the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a credible and internationally acceptable population and housing census in Nigeria.
Aladetoyinbo made the call while receiving Local Government Coordinators of NPC in Ondo State who came to brief him of their preparedness ahead of the exercise scheduled nationwide for May .
Oba Aladelusi, who is Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, expressed doubt over the credibility of the previous exercise, saying that there must be accurate and credible data for national planning.
“We now have a very good opportunity to right the wrong of the past and ensure that all the data that will be collected will be realistic, reliable and fit for national planning and development.
“We can no longer go back to the dark days of falsifying figures and depriving ourselves the true reflection of things”, he said.
The traditional ruler asked the Local Government Coordinators to ensure that everyone was counted and avoid the errors of assumption which characterised previous exercise.
“You must ensure that your enumerators get into the nooks and crannies of the state.
“In Akure for instance, there is a wide population explosion. You must therefore be prepared to go into these newly opened up areas”, he charged.
Oba Aladelusi, who is a member of the Ondo State Census Sensitisation and Publicity Committee, promised to mobilize all traditional rulers in the state to support the Commission, to ensure a hitch free exercise.