National Population Commission debunks rumour on religious affiliation
The Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, has debunked the falsehood in the viral audio currently in circulation on social media platforms stating that the commission will survey the religious affiliation of respondents in its 2023 Population and Housing Census.
This was contained in the statement issued by the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, on Saturday 8th April, 2023.
The audio tape has called on the Muslims in Nigeria to see the purported canvassing of information on their religious affiliations as a tool to suppress their population figure. It therefore instructed adherents of the Islamic faith to resist any attempt to divide the religion of Islam by refusing to answer any question on their religious affiliations.
Refuting the authenticity of the information contained in the audio, the chairman stated that the 2023 Population and Housing Census questionnaire has been excluded from questioning faith and ethnicity from respondents.
“The Commission carried out extensive consultation with data users and stakeholders in coming up with the questions to be canvassed in the next census. The overarching goal of the questionnaire is to generate data that will facilitate sustainable development. The questionnaire is robust and includes demographic characteristics of respondents and other socioeconomic characteristics but without any question whatsoever on religion and ethnicity,” the statement reads.
The transcription of a text message which is confirmed to have originated from Ghana to audio form is an attempt to stir up conflict and disrupt harmony in Nigeria by the enemies of progress.
“The recirculation of the message in audio form as the commission sets to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census in May 2023 is an indication that some elements are bent on drawing the 2023 Census into unnecessary controversies through propagation of falsehood and incitement of a section of the population to destabilize the existing peaceful coexistence in the country,” he concluded.
