Pre-test: NPC selects 6 enumeration areas from 2 LGA’s in Gombe
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
National Population Commission (NPC), on Tuesday, indicated interest to conduct pre census test in two Local Government Areas in Gombe State.
However, from two LGA’s of Gombe and Billiri the demarcation exercise would be carried out in 6 enumeration areas.
According to Abubakar Danburam; federal commissioner who delivered the address of the chairman of NPC Nasir Kwarra, at 1st pre-test for the next population and housing census, said the process would herald a possible commencement of enumeration exercise.
Danburam said, “We have decided to select two local governments; Billiri and Gombe. Enumeration Areas are what we have been carving and each Enumeration Area is expected to have a certain number of people.
“They are carved out to make enumeration easy when it comes to general census. So we have selected two Enumeration Areas; three in Gombe and three in Billiri.”
He added, “In Gombe; Jauro Abare (Shamaki), Buba shongo (Jekadafari) , Malam Kuri (Pantami) while in Billiri; Payi (Billiri North), Polapandi (Banganje South), Kura Mota (Tudu kwaya).”
The commissioner revealed that the enumeration body had completed demarcation in about 630 LGAs across the federation out of 774, adding that it precipitates the conduct of head count next year.
“The Commission is really on the way, we still have time the demarcation has not been completed. We have 774 local governments in the country we have done over 600, we have about 100 or so left expectedly we are targeting the next three months.
“The pre-test is expected to take place at least three times before the census this will check our efficacy and our level of preparedness as well as level of questionnaire design. So many things will follow before we will be able to do census, all these are not in place we will not be able to do census between now and the next one year.
“These are the efforts we are making in view of the fact that census is absolutely necessary. We can not say this is what Mr President will say but we are at the level of trying to complete pre census preparation by the grace of God we will be ready maybe in the next one year.
“We will suggest a date to Mr President truly some of these things should not be pronounced but we are trying to target maybe 2022. We are not very sure but if Mr President agrees and before that time we are able to finish all the preparatory aspect. We have elections coming up 2023, initially we looked at 2021 but we looked at so many things we don’t have particular date but when we finish we will propose a date to Mr President. It is our hope that there would be census,” he added.
