Today, 12th May 2025, the Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, hosted TPL Aniekan Ubong Akpan, the Permanent Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Office in Abuja, along with his team at the NPC Headquarters, Abuja.
The meeting focused on potential collaboration to enhance data sharing in critical areas such as housing, health insurance, and humanitarian programmes in Akwa Ibom State.
During the discussions, NPC Chairman, Hon. Kwarra emphasized the Commission's commitment to supporting the Akwa Ibom State government with accurate data to facilitate evidence-based planning and development. He reiterated the Commission's constitutional mandate to provide socio-economic and demographic data vital for national development, assuring that the NPC is dedicated to serving the Nigerian populace.
Hon. Kwarra highlighted the NPC's robust structure, which includes a Federal Commissioner for each State and the Federal Capital Territory. He addressed concerns regarding data manipulation, stating that the upcoming biometric Population and Housing Census is designed to ensure integrity and accuracy in the results. "Even I, as Chairman, cannot manipulate the figures to favour any group; my role is to represent the interests of all Nigerians," he asserted.
The NPC Chairman also revealed that, as of 2022, the Commission had identified 2.3 million structures in Akwa Ibom State during the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise, which covers all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. He expressed the NPC's eagerness to collaborate with the Akwa Ibom State government to update and customize geospatial datasets to meet the state's specific needs. He also offered technical support to enhance the capabilities of the state’s GIS officers.
Chief Engr. Benedict Ukpong, the NPC Federal Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, praised the Permanent Secretary and his team for their proactive approach in seeking accurate statistics to inform state planning and policymaking.
In his remarks, TPL Aniekan Ubong Akpan commended the NPC for its significant achievements in data generation. He called for the Commission's continued support in providing data essential for guiding the state’s housing programmes, humanitarian initiatives, and health insurance schemes.
Key NPC officials present at the meeting included Director-General, Dr. Osifo Tellson Ojogun, along with various directors and technical staff.
The collaboration aims to strengthen data-driven decision-making processes in Akwa Ibom State, ultimately contributing to its sustainable development.
