Census coming in 2016: Must be devoid of religion and ethnicity - IBB

On Tuesday, Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida urged the National Population Commission (NPC) to adequately publicise the aims and objectives of census before embarking on the 2016 headcount so that it will be devoid of religious or ethnic sentiments.

He said, wrong perception of what census is all about has characterized past head counts conducted in the country and thereby rendering the exercise controversial.

He made this call when some staff members of the NPC, led by Aliyu Datti visited him in Minna.

He further said, the inclusion of religion and tribe as part of the information required is one of the main causes of the controversies which usually come up at the end of every exercise. Those who are fanatical about religion or tribe will want the outcome to be in favour of their religion or tribe.

We should try and remove all these things that tend to cause controversy, he added.

Census is conducted to enable government to know the numbers needed for planning at all levels of government and not for religious or ethnic purpose. Sadly past census has seen animals and farms been counted as part of the head count. Funny but true.

I guess NPC is waiting for the 2015 elections before they begin to inform Nigerians about it and also the passing of the 2015 budget, abi? Well the earlier they start the better.