Dame reiterated the importance of the exercise to planning and national development, saying that the commission would deploy technology to ensure that the exercise was done with minimal hitches.
He emphasised that the forthcoming census would be unique and would conform to global standards. He also noted that the commission had started preparing for the exercise in 2014 and had made arrangements for improvement over the previous ones.
According to Dame, the commission would deploy technology for the exercise to curtail chances of manipulation, and to make it credible, reliable, and acceptable to Nigerians. He assured that it would be difficult for anyone to manipulate the census because the commission would deploy what was needed to make it credible and acceptable. The visit was to seek media support for the success of the exercise in the state.
Dame called on residents of the state to support and cooperate with NPC personnel during the exercise slated to hold between May 3 to May 7. The NUJ chairman in the state, Mr Paul Jatau, thanked the commission for the visit and assured that journalists in the state would do everything to support the commission toward the success of the forthcoming national exercise.
However, Jatau advised the commission to conduct proper training for its officials to avert challenges experienced during the just-concluded general elections. The NPC has promised to conduct a census that will be credible and acceptable to Nigerians.
The exercise is crucial to planning and national development, and the commission has made arrangements for improvement over the previous ones. The use of technology will make it difficult for anyone to manipulate the census, and residents of the state are urged to support and cooperate with NPC personnel during the exercise.