Yemisi Izuora
The National Population Commission (NPC) on Monday commenced the second phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in preparation for the next nationwide census.
The EAD exercise aims at pruning down the country into small unit areas to enhance enumerators duties during the census period.
The exercise which was flagged off in Mushin Local Government Area of the state according to the federal commissioner NPC in Lagos state Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin constitutes the foundation on which the entire census architecture stands.
She explained that the Commission embarked on the exercise because it forms the basis for the planning and execution of the census project, noting that a faulty foundation cannot produce a solid building no matter the finishing and decoration.
“In the pre-census period, the total number of Enumatio Areas (EAs) and its distribution is required for census planning particularly the deployment of personnel, logistics and materials for the Pretest, Trial Census, the main Census and the post Enumeration Survey” she pointed out.
The Commissioner therefore described the EAD as a vehicle that drives the entire census process in the pre-census, actual census and post census period.
She said the second phase of the exercise is on-going in 29 local governments of the 29 states in the federation including Mushin LGA and that adequate logistics have been put in place for effective deployment of personnel and materials in all 14 Wards of the LGA during the EAD exercise.
To ensure commitment of field staff, only staff of the NPC would be deployed as demarcators and which will further ensure the exercise is insulated from interference and also ensure accountability.
Salu-Hundeyin called for the cooperation of Lagosians to support the exercise as accurate data from upcoming census would enhance economic development of the state.