The National Population Commission plans to spend N2.77bn on internet and connectivity for the data transmission of census data, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
This was according to a document presented by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, during a high-level partners engagement to seek support for the 2023 census in March.
The document showed that a total of N869bn is needed for the census, adding that the government committed N291.5bn, with an additional N327.2bn needed.
In January, the NPC disclosed 786,741 functionaries would be trained for the 2023 census.
The commission disclosed that the functionaries would consist of 623,797 enumerators, 125,944 supervisors, 24,001 data quality assistants, 12,000 field coordinators, 1,000 data quality managers, 1639 centre administrators, and 59,000 LGA level facilitators.
Saturday PUNCH noted that a total of N134.34bn was budgeted for two sets of training for 885,000 persons for building numbering and household listing and enumeration.
The document further indicated that the main census exercise will last for five days with an average cost of N12,018 per person per day.
A total of N53.18bn was planned for the main census exercise.
However, the NPC recently announced that it would perform a digital census for three days, which would commence on May 3 and end on May 5 across the country.
This, according to the commission, will be in line with the United Nations’ recommendations for the 2020 round of census that countries should leverage the digital tool for the conduct of the census.
The NPC confirmed its preparedness in February 2023, as it received over 100,000 electronic devices and Personal Digital Assistance for the conduct of a successful and credible digital population and housing census.
The commission also seeks N60.75bn to acquire 405,000 additional local content tablets and accessories for the census exercise.
It conducted a trial census with field works in six states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in July 2022.
The commission had identified poor network areas across the country and was already in touch with the Nigerian Communications Commission with a view to finding a solution to them.
Speaking to our correspondent, the NPC spokesperson, Ishaya Yahaya, said the NPC had mapped out areas with poor networks, adding that the commission was in discussions with the NCC to resolve grey areas ahead of the 2023 census.
Yahaya noted, “There is no problem with the internet. In places where there are no networks, the enumerators will take responses and input them into tablets and later move to where there is a network and transmit the data. We had even done network mapping, so we know which areas have a network or not.
“We are also having discussions with the NCC to see how we can improve on network availability ahead of the census.”
The NPC spokesperson further appealed to Persons with Disabilities to make themselves available during the census, noting that challenges encountered during the 2023 election would be averted.
Yahaya added, “Our appeal is that they should make themselves available and answer the questions truthfully. We do not envisage any problem during the census exercise. We are going to meet them at their houses. Anywhere we find people, including the custodial centres will be counted.”
