National Population Commission (NPC) has inaugurated a 19-man security and logistics committee for the conduct of the May 2023 National Population and Housing Census.
Federal Commissioner of NPC in the state, Mr Darlington Okereke, while inaugurating the Committee, Tuesday in Abakaliki said the importance of security and logistics to the census exercise can not be over-emphasized as they were vital in the quest to give Nigeria a credible and reliable exercise.
He said, “The Commission attaches great importance to the work of the security committee, whose work we believe is very critical to the commission.
“We are ready to fully support the committee in all areas to make it succeed in the assignment,” the commissioner said.
Mr Panchris Eze, Chairman of the Committee and Special Assistant to Gov. David Umahi commended the commission for its efforts at ensuring the conduct of a successful and reliable census.
Eze pledged to bring his experience in security management to bear in ensuring a hitch-free exercise across the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Faleye Olayele, promised to mobilise the officers and men of his command for security of lives and property during and after the national head count.
A member of the committee, Lt.-Col. Sunday Atomode, also pledged his support to the commission in its efforts at gathering accurate and reliable demographic data for the country.
Atomode, who is the Commander, Nkwagu Military Cantonment, noted that census exercise was good for planning for sustainable development.
Also speaking, Mrs Julia Manyike, a Director at the commission, said that the inauguration of the committee was in line with the Federal Government’s desire to bequeath an enduring legacy of evidence-based planning for nation building.
According to Manyike, the establishment of the census security and logistics committee is aimed at ensuring the programming and control of safe movement of census personnel and materials.
Members of the Security/Logistics Committee include the Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on Security Mr Panchris Eze, Hon Darlington Okereke, Commander Military Cantonment Nkwegu Lt Col Sunday Olayinka, State Controller Correctional Service Mr Chibata Ayew, State Commissioner of Police Faleke Olaleye, State Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) among others.
