By Nicholas Kalu
The second phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) for the 2017 Census has commenced in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State. The exercise would last till March 14, 2016.
Addressing reporters in Calabar, the Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission in the state, Idi Baba Yakubu, said the pilot test of the EAD took place in December 2014 in Akoko North East of Ondo State.
Yakubu, a lawyer, said the experience from this informed the first phase of the EAD which took place from November 26 to December 16 in one local government in each of the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the second phase of the EAD will take place in 29 local governments in 29 States of the Federation not covered under the pilot phase and first phase.
The Commissioner said in order to ensure commitment of field staff, only staff of the Commission have been deployed as demarcators in the EAD exercise so far.
This, he said, will ensure that the exercise is insulated from interference and also ensure accountability.
He said the Commission is living no stone unturned to ensure that the EAD for the 2017 Census is carried out meticulously, professionally and scientifically to provide the basis for the smooth conduct of the census next year.
According to him, the importance of the present EAD goes beyond the conduct of the next census, as it will provide the national framework for future censuses and surveys in the country.
“Given the quality of the EAD and the clear methodology to be adopted, this will be the last time the Commission will be embarking on a full scale EAD exercise as future censuses will only require updating,” he said.
Yakubu also pointed out that considering the fact that the 2017 Census will be biometric based and will seek to capture the facial impression and fingerprints of persons during the census period, any hope of gaining advantage through manipulation of EAD will not be possible as only persons physically seen will be counted and their biometrics taken.
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