The Federal Government (FG) through the National Population Commission (NpopC), on Thursday, disclosed plans for commencement of the first pre-test for the next census exercise.
The pre-test according to the Commission is usually conducted before the actual census and at the middle of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise.
Speaking in Abuja at a briefing on the commencement of field work for the exercise, the Commission’s Chairman, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, explained that the exercise is a critical part of the census planning process that provides the opportunity to test all aspects of the programme and instruments in advance of the main censal activities.
He noted that the sampling methodology was designed to test run and confirm the viability and effectiveness of the already demarcated areas in readiness for a smooth census exercise.
“The conduct of pre-test is aimed at testing the census methodology, the questionnaires, data collection methods, the manuals for field staff, instruction manuals, data editing and coding, data processing and tabulation in preparation for the actual census,”he said.
According to the Chairman,the first pre-exercise would be conducted in 222 Enumeration Areas(EAs) in 112 LGAs across the 36 states of the Federation including the FCT that were demarcated between 2016-2018.
He stressed that the exercise which would commence on June 6, 2021, is not the actual census but,”the mirror through which we look at our readiness for the next census.”
Kwarra also highlighted the aims and objectives of the pre-test exercise to include assessment of the quality and usefulness of the EA maps already created, the demographic and geographic changes that have occurred in the EAs created in 2016-2018 and their implications for census enumeration.
In addition, he said the exercise is aimed at uploading EA MAPs on census PDAs for enumeration while assessing the relationship between the EAD estimated population and pre-test exercise.
While fielding questions from journalists, the Chairman noted that the exercise would be funded by the FG with support from States and Local governments.
He further disclosed that the EAD exercise which was initially slated for completion in June has been extended by another three months due to insecurity and other logistics issues.
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