NPC inaugurates security, logistics committee in Ebonyi

National Population Commission (NPC), Ebonyi office, on Tuesday, inaugurated a 19-man security and logistics committee for the conduct of the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census.

Federal Commissioner of NPC in the state, Mr Darlington Okereke, stated this during the inauguration of the committee at International Conference Centre (ICC), Abakaliki.

According to Okereke, the importance of security to the census exercise can not be over-emphasized.

Okereke expressed the commission’s commitment to conducting a credible, reliable and acceptable population and housing census across the country.

He described census as ‘next to war and biggest peace time activity’ in terms of mobilisation of men and resources to the commission and the country at large.

“I want to assure all members of the committee of iron-cast support from the commission.

“We are ready to fully support the committee in all areas to make it succeed in the assignment,” the commissioner said.

Mr Ikechukwu Eze, Chairman of the Committee and Special Assistant to Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, 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.