Army pledges to deploy troops for population and housing census exercise

The Nigerian Army has assured the National Population Commission that it will deploy troops during the 2023 census.

This, it said, is to enable the commission to conduct the forthcoming census successfully.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, pledged on Thursday when the Chairman National Population Commission, Nasir  Kwarra, led the Board of Commissioners and Directors on a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters.

This was contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations,  Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.

It read, “The Army pledged continuous support to the National Population Commission to enable it to conduct the forthcoming 2023 census successfully.

“Expressing the readiness of the NA to support the commission in its effort to conduct the 2023 census, the COAS gave assurance that the NA would provide requisite support to the commission through the deployment of troops and adequate security to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.”

Onyema also said the COAS promised the commission’s staff access to barracks across the country.

Lagbaja was quoted as saying, “The NA will provide adequate security and support to the staff of the commission and free access to NA Barracks across formations and units”.

Earlier, Kwarra noted that the NA is a major stakeholder in the conduct of the forthcoming 2023 census, hence the need to acquaint the COAS with the progress in preparation for the forthcoming census.

He solicited the collaboration of the military in security-related areas during the exercise.