IPOB not threat to 2023 census in South East –NPC

From Magnus Eze, Enugu

 

National Population Commission (NPC) has said Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will not be a threat to the 2023 national population and housing census slated from May 3 to May 5.

This is as pro-Biafra group has restated its call on people of the South East residing outside the zone to come back home and be counted in the forthcoming census exercise in the country.

Federal Commissioner of the NPC in Enugu State, Ejike Eze, who gave the assurance in Enugu, in Enugu, said the pro-Biafra group had sufficiently understood the need to allow residents to participate in the exercise to make it successful as doing otherwise would be counterproductive to the region.

Eze disclosed that staff in the field had encounters with members of IPOB in two local government areas of Enugu State during the demarcation of the areas preparatory to the headcount, but the state government intervened leading to the resolution of the issues.

The NPC commissioner said: “IPOB has on its own embarked on advocacy to encourage people to participate in the census. We have been able to engage IPOB to convince it that its agitation requires information that the census would provide.”

He dismissed calls for a shift in the dates of the exercise, arguing that census is not the same as election where there are competitors, winners and losers.

IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the mass return of people of South East will justify their population and enhance amenities needed in the zone.

For the group, the exercise was an opportunity for the people of the region to show the world that they are not just a dot as being erroneously addressed in Nigeria.

 “The mass return of our people during this forthcoming population census will help us quantify the population of Biafrans in Nigeria.  Therefore, we must use the opportunity Nigeria government is offering to our benefit.

 “They have always told the world that we are a dot with an insignificant population. Now is the time to let the world know the population of Biafrans in Nigeria as Biafra agitation is gathering international attention and speed,” Powerful said.