2018 Census: Enumeration Area Demarcation Begins in Benue

The National Population Commission (NPC) on Thursday says it has started the third phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in Benue for the 2018 National Population Census.

Mrs Patricia Kupchi, NPC Federal Commissioner in Benue, told Newsverge in Makurdi that the exercise started in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

She said that enumerators would move round communities in the area to number and divide houses into enumeration areas, using satellite maps.

According to her, the exercise is aimed at dividing the enumeration areas into smaller units for effective census coverage.

Kupchi said: “As you are aware, population census is the enumeration of all persons resident in a country or well defined geographic units at a particular time.

“In order to effectively enumerate all these persons within a reasonable period, it becomes imperative to divide the whole land mass of the country into small units that can be easily covered by team of enumerators.’’

She explained that the EAD would go beyond the conduct of the next census as it would provide the national framework for future censuses and surveys in the country.

Kpuchi said the exercise, scheduled to end March 10, was absolutely necessary in the quest to deliver accurate, reliable and acceptable census.

The commissioner appealed to communities in the area to cooperate with the enumerators for a successful exercise.

She commended Gov. Samuel Ortom for promising to provide enumeration officials with security to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

“The governor has also endorsed the enumeration area for demarcation, urging the people of Ohimini to embrace the exercise and grant us access to their housing units and other buildings for numbering,” she said.

Newsverge reports that the first and second phases of the exercise were conducted in two other local government areas of the state.