The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Abdul Ningi, has assured that the 2024 National Census will take place as soon as President Bola Tinubu announce a date for the exercise.

“All we need to do is accept the announcement by the president that the population census is coming on a date and once he says it, the international observers will now come in with their support.

“Without the president’s declaration, no one will send a kobo to Nigeria to support the population census,” he added.

“All we need to do is for the president to have the political will and commitment to say the census is taking place and we cannot postpone it.”

He said that population census was at the crux of human development, because without census, nothing can be planned.

“No nation improves nor develops without knowing its number and therefore, this is a unique assignment that the nominees would face in due course.”

Ningi charged the nominees to realise the importance of the assignment before them and deploy their pedigree, experience and exposure to ensure success of the assignment.

“It is very imperative that while you are on that duty, you see yourselves as Nigerians. There is no basis for any competition, whether there are more Hausa people than Igbo people or more Yoruba than Tiv,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman of the NPC, Nasir Kwarra, lauded in the Senate for the screening.

“Out of the 19 nominees that were sent, two will not be here. Because the commissioner representing Ondo has been appointed as Secretary to the State Government.

“The commissioner representing Ogun contested the House of Assembly election. Initially, he wasn’t declared the winner. The court gave him the seat. So he is not going to be sworn in.”

Those screened included Sa’adatu Dogon Bauchi, Kaduna; Emmanuel Eke, Abia; Clifford Zirra, Adamawa; Chidi Ezeoke, Anambra; Isa Buratai, Borno; Bishop Alex Ukam, Cross River; Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, Delta; and Dr Jeremiah Nwankwegu, Ebonyi.

Others were Dr Tony Aiyejina, Edo; Ejike Ezeh, Enugu; Abubakar Damburam, Gombe; Prof. Uba Nnabue, Imo; Aminu Tsanyawa, Kano; Yori Afolabi, Kogi; Mary Afan, Plateau; Saany Sale, Taraba; and Ogiri Henry, Rivers.