Says State was grossly under counted

By Wole Masadomi

Minna—Niger State government has said that it is still angry over the outcome of the last national population census in the country, saying that the state was grossly under counted.

It, therefore, said it had taken the necessary steps to ensure that the people were adequately sensitised and mobilised towards the 2016 Census.

Acting governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, spoke when the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Farouk Bahago, paid him Sallah homage at Government House, yesterday, and called on people of the state to submit themselves for counting during the forthcoming census, as according to him, the exercise was not aimed at introducing or imposing any form of taxation on the people but at knowing the exact population of the country which would in turn ensure proper planning and  distribution of social amenities to the people.

He said: “From the finding of the state, it was discovered that the people were grossly under counted because our people refused to be counted out of ignorance and that is why the government has raised a team to sensitise and mobilise our people on the need to be counted in the 2016 Census.”

Ibeto asked traditional rulers, village, ward and district heads to rise up to the challenge of mobilising and also sensitising their people on the need to be counted.
He further used the occasion to call on people of the state to unite more than ever before towards flushing out criminals, especially the insurgents in their midst so as to enjoy peace.

The acting governor noted that the recent ban on Okada as a means of transportation had started yielding results as statistics had shown drastic reduction in crimes in Minna, the state capital. He added that the government also planned to carve out designated areas for beggars in Minna, where people could go to give alms or assist such beggars.

Earlier, the Emir,  Alhaji Bahago had thanked Allah for the successful fasting in the state and urged the people of the state not to relent in praying for peace to reign in the state and country at large.
A mini Durbar was staged to commemorate the Sallah celebration.

– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/still-angry-last-population-census-niger-govt/#sthash.70MzhPFP.dpuf

Posted by admin on Jul 28 2014. Filed under Headlines, Niger, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry