Governor David Umahi has urged Ebonyi residents to submit participate the 2023 national census.

The governor gave the charge during a ‘Stakeholders’ Summit on Citizens’ input and Consultation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census’ in Abakakilki on Monday.

Mr Umahi, who inaugurated a 19-member state steering committee on the forthcoming national population and housing census, called for the harmonisation of the rights of indigenes during the exercise.

The committee has Mr Umahi and Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe as chairman and vice-chairman, respectively.

He commended the commission for its efforts toward successful conduct and pledged support to sensitise the people at the grassroots.

Mr Umahi expressed optimism that the NPC is prepared to deliver a credible census going by the outcome of its preliminary exercises such as the enumeration area demarcation and the trial census.

“I urge all and sundry to join hands at ensuring that Ebonyi is well and totally captured. The task of delivering an acceptable census is a collective one. The committee should put in their very best to achieve successful conduct. We will be doing a monthly evaluation of our progress toward the census,” explained the governor.

He added, “There should be proper harmonisation of the question of place of birth and indigenship rights in the forthcoming census in Nigeria. Southeast indigenes are scattered all over the country. At this time, we will need to evaluate the indices of the census; we will be asking these critical questions.”

(NAN)