Muttaka Rini, federal commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Zamfara, said digitalising the 2023 population and housing census would ensure transparency and accountability.

Mr Rini stated this while speaking with journalists in Gusau on Monday and noted that the digital census would ensure accurate and credible data.

“You know, in the previous census, we used paper and pen,” Mr Rini said. “Digitalising the process would ensure transparency and accountability in the census.”

On Sunday, the state’s NPC office trained 75 imams on sensitisation and enlightenment for the 2023 population and housing census.

He noted that one of the commission’s responsibilities was to partner and seek support and cooperation from stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise in the state.

“Parts of the commission’s measures to ensure the success of the exercise in the state was the engagement of all stakeholders, including the traditional and religious leaders, media practitioners and Islamic scholars.

“They have greater roles to play in promoting citizens’ participation in the exercise,” he said.

Noting that the commission trained five imams from each local government area of the state, he called on people, especially the stakeholders, to support the commission to ensure a successful census in the state.

“The census data is used to determine every sector of human development in the areas of the economy, housing, health, education, employment and unemployment,” he further explained.

(NAN)