SANWO – OLU URGES LAGOSIANS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN 2023 CENSUS.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo – Olu has appealed to all Lagos residents to participate fully in the 2023 Population and Housing Census by Cooperating with the National Population Commission ( NPC ) Officials and Committees set up by the State Government in the series of activities lined up towards the exercise. He said the exercise was extremely important because the census will provide the vital data and statistics in areas that will enable the Government to plan better and deliver more effective infrastructure and social services to the people of Lagos State. Governor Sanwo – Olu made the appeal at the Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population Census held on Tuesday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. The Governor who was decorated as the 2023 Population and Housing Census Patron, promised full support and commitment of the Lagos State Government towards a successful Census exercise. He said “We can not emphasise enough the critical role a credible National Census plays in achieving effective and result – oriented planning. This exercise is extremely important because apart from the Population Figure, the Census will also provide us with vital data and statistics in many areas that will enable us plan better and deliver more effective infrastructure and social services to the people of Lagos State. As we are all aware, The Last Nigeria Census was conducted in 2006. The result of that exercise indicated that the Population of Lagos State was 9,013,534 which was reviewed up ward to 12, 772, 884 in 2019 making our population the second Largest in Nigeria, after Kano State. Although Lagos State has always contested these figures – we have always been clear that they do not reflect the actual Population of the State it has remained the official population figure upon which national planning decisions are based. Now we have in front of us another opportunity to get it right, perhaps for the first time in our history. Many of you will be familiar with the controversies and tensions that have accompanied all previous Census exercise, we can not afford to have the disturbing outcomes happen again in 2023. Thankfully, we can count on new technology that make enumeration more easier and credible. In that vain, it is heartwarming to note that the planned 2023 Population and Housing Census slated for April 2023 will be a digital Census taking advantage of digital tools and technology. This is unprecedented in our history, and another sign of how technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, including conduct of our elections. Knowing how many we are in Nigeria, and in each State, is a basic foundation that must be put in place for our economic growth and prosperity and that if we fail to plan we plan to fail because we can not adequately plan for future without possessing accurate data that shows us today’s pattern and tomorrow’s trend. Governor Sanwo – Olu who Launched the 2023 Census Implementation and Strategy Plan during the Stakeholders meeting, announced the setting up of five additional committees in line National Population Commission’s Strategy and Vision to the Technical Committee he set up last year. The new Committees are, Census Advisory Committee, Census Logistic Committee, Census Publicity and Advocacy Committee, Census Security Committee and Census Monitoring Group. Governor Sanwo – Olu Commended President Muhammad Buhari for hosting the National Stakeholders Summit on 2023 National Population and Housing Census in August 2021, which set up the stage for the stakeholders summits being organised at the subnational level . The President commitment to a successful Census has never been in doubt which has been a source of inspiration to the State. Governor Sanwo – Olu also commended the participants at the stakeholders summit, saying their attendance is a clear reflection of the importance of this exercise and collective commitment that the desired objectives is achieved, especially in Lagos and everything will be deployed to ensure widespread sensitisation and enlightenment of our people. Speaking earlier, the Chairman of National Population Commission , Hon. Nasir Isah Kwarra urged Lagos residents to stay in the State during the exercise for them to be counted so that the data generated from the census would be used for planning towards growth and development of the State and the citizens. The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Traditional Rulers and Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu represented by the Oniru of Iru land His Royal Majesty Oba Omogbolahan Lawal said data will help the government to plan and therefore urged Lagos residents to participate in the 2023 Census by ensuring that they stay and be counted in Lagos during the exercise. He also urged National Population Commission to share data with the subnational government for adequate planning.