By Augustine Ehikioya
To ensure the next year’s census in the country is credible and hitch-free, the Nigerian Army has pledged to support the National Population Commission (NPC).
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, spoke in Abuja when the Chairman of NPC, Hon. Nasiru Isa Kwarra, paid courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters on Tuesday.
In a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), the Army Chief said the Army “will not hesitate in providing security for government agencies to enable them perform their national obligations.”
According to him, adequate census data was essential for planning, socio economic development of the country.
Speaking earlier, the NPC Chairman, with senior staff of the Commission in attendance, sought the support of the Nigerian Army in conducting credible census in Nigeria.
Stating the purpose of his visit, Honorable Kwarra said “he was at the Army Headquarters as part of the Commission’s engagement of major stakeholders in the conduct of seamless census exercise and to create awareness on the forth coming National census slated for 2023.”
He noted that “the Census will unearth the demographic data needed to address the security challenges bedeviling the Nation. This, he said was in line with the vision of the Commission.”
Honourable Kwarra said that the Commission aspires to meet the data needs of all end users and ensure a robust and quality population for national transformation and global competitiveness.
He lauded troops of the NA for their effort in ongoing campaign against security challenges in the country.
Present at the event were Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters and Commissioners from the National Population Commission.