Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
…As The NPC HFC Pays Advocacy Visit To AKS TRC
By Saviour Ekpe
The President General, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, His Eminence, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, CFR has directed all Paramount Rulers in the 31 local government areas of the state to work towards the success of the forthcoming general census.
The Royal Father gave the directive yesterday during the advocacy visit by Management staffers of the National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State led by the Federal Commissioner, Chief (Engr.) Benedict Ukpong, FNSE (Okete Okete Oro). The President General who explained the main essence of population census to the nation, state and community further noted that the benefit of the exercise will bring 
about the development of the state, local government area and communities.
His Eminence, Nteyin Etuk who is also the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium local government area said that all Paramount Rulers, Clan Heads, Village Heads and family heads must get up and be more proactive towards the success of the exercise, “Our roles as Royal Fathers are critical towards ensuring that the exercise in our state is successful. It is a collective effort. I want to urge all the royal fathers to be more serious this time and let everyone reach out including the hinterlands, especially the riverine communities”.
He urged village heads to use all available methods of communication within their disposition and reach out to their subjects to spread information about the coming Population and Housing Census; set up tour guides in each village and community who will lead the census functionaries as well as make provisions for their logistics. He also advised NPC officials to make an effort to visit villages for effective collaboration and sensitization, “I strongly urge you to visit the villages and communities so that you have a stronger collaboration”.
In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong expressed the readiness of the Akwa Ibom State Government towards the forthcoming Population and Housing Census (PHC) in the state and pledged the commitment of his office to ensure that all Chairmen of the 31 local government areas are effectively involved in the exercise.
He acknowledged the fact that Akwa Ibom State is thickly populated, 
hence no one is sure of the exact population figure and expressed the hope that the exercise will give the people of the state and indeed, Nigeria a relief in that direction, “The population of Akwa Ibom State is very dense, the 2023 Census will give us the accurate figure and the state is ready for the exercise. The Hon. Federal Commissioner should set up a modality to interface with Chairmen of the 31 local government areas and their Counselors”.
Earlier in his address, Chief (Engr) Benedict Ukpong FNSE (Okete Okete Oro), Hon Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State among other things, made two major and significant requests of synergy with the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council and the need for the royal fathers to further take the message to the governor for a more prompt approach, “As a state, Akwa Ibom must not lag behind in any aspect of the Census exercise. This is the reason we have to make this visit a matter of topmost priority and I salute Your Royal Majesties for granting us this opportunity despite your busy schedule. I sincerely believe that you will use your very revered offices and positions in the state to among other 
things: Build synergy between the National Population Commission and the traditional institutions in the state and assist in passing the Census message to every community through your preferred and commendable means of communication; Reach out to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, his cabinet and all the Local Government Chairmen to support the Commission to achieve a credible, reliable and acceptable Census”.
The Federal Commissioner reiterated the essence of the census, “the importance of Census as a tool for national planning and development cannot be overemphasized. Thus, the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR through the instrumentality of the National Council of States gave consent in 2022 to conduct a Population and Housing Census this year, 2023”.
He explained the effort made by the commission and promised to sustain the tempo till after the 2023 National Housing and Population Census, “The Commission had carried out a series of preliminary activities in preparation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the state. The first was the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) which involved the division of the entire country’s land space into smaller units called Enumeration Area (EA) where enumerators can cover and count people easily during the Census period without omissions or overlaps. The Commission also conducted the first and second Pre-tests and the Trial Census last year where all the instruments and Methodology for the census were subjected to credibility, integrity and reliability tests. Also, in line with the avowed decision of the Commission to give every Nigerian a sense of belonging and participation in the Census, the Commission launched the e-recruitment portal where every applicant who possessed the required qualifications had an opportunity to register and participate in the Census based on merit and experience. So far, over 2,000 Akwa Ibom sons and daughters have been recruited and trained for the census. The last stage of the training will involve the training of over 20,000 persons as Enumerators and Supervisors for the Census in the state is expected to commence soon”.
The visit featured the decoration of the President General, His Eminence, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, CFR and the Hon Commissioner, Rt. Hon Frank Archibong and symbolic decoration of all Paramount Rulers of the 31 LGAs as 2023 Census Ambassadors. The event had all Paramount Rulers, representatives of Clan Heads, Village Heads and family heads in attendance.
