The National Population Commission (NPC) has observed that the census questionnaire lacks a religion and ethnicity column.
Friday in Kano, during an advocacy visit by the National Publicity Committee for the 2023 Population and Housing Census to the Nigerian Television Authority, Kano, the commission made the clarification.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, chairman of the committee and minister of information and culture, led the delegation, which was represented by Dr. Garba Abari, director general of the National Orientation Agency.
Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, a member of the committee, stated that the commission had no interest in such information in response to rumours that Nigerians would be questioned about their religion and ethnic background.
Yahaya, who is also the Director of Public Affairs for the commission, argued that issues of religion and ethnicity being promoted on social media were baseless distractions.
“Since 1991, when the National Population Commission began conducting censuses, we have never inquired about race and religion.
“We didn’t do it in 1991, we didn’t do it in 2006 and we won’t do it now.
“The reason is self-evident. The two issues are highly sensitive and have the potential to detract from the census’s primary issue, he said.