The Federal Government has said technology would be used for the national census billed to be held in 2023.
The government explained that this is to ensure the process is seamless, fair and credible.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at a three-day capacity-building workshop on the 2023 Population and Housing Census for State Directors and Management Staff of the National Orientation Agency.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director General, NOA, Garba Abari, added that this was important as the world has moved to a digital era.
He said, “The idea of a digital census being pursued by the NPC and the assiduous plans by the commission towards the 2023 national census is indeed a novelty that must be commended. This is because it allows us to deploy technology towards addressing national development concerns.
“The idea is to ensure the exercise is credible, fair and inclusive. The digital census being planned is what is expected at a time when our world is being increasingly digitalised. I commend the commission and I want to urge you to give Nigeria a transparent census exercise.’’
The Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Kwarra, said the commission needed collaboration to educate Nigerians and purge them of wrong perceptions about the census in the country.
He said, “We require solid collaboration in information, enlightenment, and advocacy not only to mobilise the entire populace for the 2023 Population and Housing Census but also to help to clarify possible misrepresentation and misperception that are bound to occur in the process.”