Nigeria: And it's Census Time Once Again

Nigeria is having another population census after 15 years since the last one was held. Unsurprisingly, the Nigerian blogosphere is buzzing with information and opnions about the national activity.

Grandiose Parlor is pessimistic about the whole exercise, and bears his mind on the issue:
Census 2006: Another Nigerian Spectacle?

Despite four censuses in the past, the much awaited and keenly debated 2006 census commenced under a cloud of apathy, apprehension and acrimony. The widespread confusion and pockets of violence in some regions as reported by the various news agencies and in the Nigerian blogosphere makes me wonder if Nigeria has what it takes to exist as a progressive nation.

Would it be too early to predict a lousy result given what is unfolding in the country?

Emmanuel Oluwatosin’s Thought Line is on census break and enjoying his time at home.

The Sit-at-home order by the Lagos State Government is gradually having the same impact on my blogging time. That means, I might be forced to stay offline too and hence, my blog witnessing Census Break :) . Anyway, I would try to do some work offline and upload whenever I come online. So, let’s all stand and be counted…

Gbenga Sesan's Oro looks beyond the Nigerian population census, and looks at the Nigerian Internet users census as well: National Census — and an Internet Census

For the next few days, Nigerians are all involved in one project — the national census. By the end of the process, we should know exactly how many Nigerians live in Nigeria — 120 million? 150 million? Less? More? And as soon as that census exercise is over, another census (that will seek to consider how many Internet enthusiasts there are in Nigeria) will hold at the MUSON Center in Lagos. Just like the shame of not knowing how many of us there really are (to help effective planning), this digital census should help rid Nigeria of the shame that contention and slow-paced action around the .ng issue has brought.

Still on Nigeria's population census, Naijablog (exp) cannot hide his disdain about the poor information management associated with Nigeria, and how it is affecting the organisation of the current census: Information mismanagement

The census has, er, started. I hesitate because as usual, there is an almighty information balls-up at work. First, we were told to stay at home Tues-Sat. Then, the President stepped in and said we only have to be grounded Fri and Sat. Meanwhile, Lagos State had already decreed that everyone must stay home for the whole 5 days, as originally planned. Lagos has apparently shut down for the week. Now, the FCT minister has apparently announced that everyone must leave work by 12 (or 2?) Tues-Thu, with everyone staying at home Fri and Sat. But then I caught the Information Minister on NTA last night implying that only those who hadn't already been counted and who received a calling card must stay home Fri and Sat. It's all very confusing. I went to see a Director witin a govt agency today and asked him what he planned to do. He said every now and then, he peeps out of the window. If everyone starts leaving the building, he will too!

Not even Ore's Notes is sure of information about the census: Census, at Last!!! For the last week or so, no o…

Census, at Last!!!!!!For the last week or so, no one has been sure of exactly how this census was going to work. Do we stay at home and be counted, or what?

I'd been looking forward to this 4-day break for a very long time and assumed that Tuesday to Friday would be work-free days. Then we started to hear that this would not be so. This was followed closely by the “public holiday” versus “curfew” debates i.e. would Tue to Fri be public holidays (i.e. we don't go to work, but you can move around freely) or curfewed days (i.e. you still don't go to work, but then you can't leave the house either). I really didn't care either way, so long as I got to stay at home. Yes, I know! What a conscentious and hard worker I must be (not!). Well, actually I am, which is why I really wanted the break – to take care of all my other business.

Today is the World Water Day and Shola Ogunlokun chooses to blog about that: Its no mid life crisis

Today is the 14th United Nations world water day, and with many parts of the South East of England on alert about low water resovouir levels, it is time we reflect on our use of this natural resource as well as think of those in countries where water is not a luxury.

This World Water Day, WaterAid is encouraging people to take a minute to consider the 1.1 billion people who do not have access to clean, safe water. During the course of that minute, four children will have died of water-related-diseases. This is not inevitable and it certainly isn't acceptable.

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