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| Festus Odimegwu |
The National Population Commission plans to establish a globally accepted demographic biometric data for 2016 census in the country.
This statement was made by the Chairman, of the Commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, during a courtesy call to the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
He said that having a biometric data for 2016 census would help to eliminate any form of fraud or manipulation during the exercise.
He also added that “Using global best practises in technology and operational competencies will enhance a credible, accurate, auditable and acceptable demographic data and population register.”
The chairman also said the plan would guarantee evidence-based planning and issuance of credible ID cards to all Nigerians.
Odimegwu said that there would be a cartographic digital imagery and photography for the 200,000 localities in the country, adding that the locality compendium and direction among others, would be published.
Earlier, Dr Festus Uzo, the Chairman, Technical Management Team of the commission, said that identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the 2006 census would enhance proper planning for 2016 census.
He said this at the opening of the commission’s in-house workshop on the review and evaluation of the 2006 Population and Housing Census.
According to Uzo, the review will enable the commission have an appropriate methodology for the conduct of 2016 census and also articulate a road map for it.
“In this in-house critique, we shall be looking at the sectional prospective of the field experiences, beginning with the Evaluation Area Demarcation (EAD),” he said.
Uzo said the 2006 census instrument would be evaluated to ascertain its effectiveness.
He also said that the recruitment, training, and payment of the personnel would be evaluated to know if the desired result was achieved or not, and the lesson for the next census.
Uzo said the seven data processing centres in the country would be reviewed to know its role in the 2006 census exercise and its relevance in the advancing world of information technology.
