APGA calls for immediate census of the southeast region

A group, APGA Think-Tank, Nigeria has called for census across the southeastern regions.

In a statement titled “A CALL FOR SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL CENSUS” signed by its Policy Directorate, 

APGA Think-Tank, Nigeria called on governments of Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi States to hold state census and count the number of people living in their States.

The statement reads:

The Governments of Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi States should each hold a State Census, counting the number of people living in their States.

A situation where the cities of Aba, Umuahia and Onitsha are under a severe pollution threat secondary to the poor management of industrial/residential waste and refuse, has broad implications for the State/National welfare and requires immediate policy review.

Waste does not make itself. Waste is made by the citizens and enterprise at a given locale.

At the APGA THINK-TANK, NIGERIA, it is our opinion that these Nigerian States are overpopulated, underfunded, and under-amenitized, regarding infrastructure catering to the welfare of the resident population. 

Such needs to change. 

A situation where Onitsha – Anambra State, is listed as having a population of 350,000 people in a recent 2016 media report, is totally untenable. 

We may not govern from very false data. It results in the above menace and decadence.

Aba, Abia state is listed as 500,000 peoples by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.

At the APGA THINK-TANK, we say Whoa! Aba alone has no less than 10 million indigenes. Yes! You can write that again. 

The primary school students in the Aba locale, number more than 500,000. Onitsha – boasting one of the largest markets in West Africa has no less than 10 million people also.

Aba and Onitsha rank only with Lagos in enterprise. They rank with Kano, Lagos and probably Ibadan in population statistics. 

They should be given their due. 

Undercounting our populations is a ticking time bomb. 

The poor economic allocation to these States and Local Governments secondary to poor statistical data cannot help with administration and management of the Cities. 

The Governors and subsequent governments have not done well to cover up this open secret. 

They should speak up for the broad public and national interest. Nigeria needs to know the number of people resident in it. 

Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu did same in the early 2000’s.

Lagos State is better for it, as subsequent Lagos State Government administrations understand where it is underperforming in assisting the citizenry, and is allocating resources where they should go in serving the city and state residents. 

Poor allocation has broader public health implications in the spread of diseases and the management of the human health and welfare attached to it.

Even the National Electricity Grid as recently drawn by the Minister of Power – Babatunde Fashola, depicts the South-East as having a very high concentration of power consumption, compared to other locales in the Nigerian National Grid. 

That calls for serious pause, and can only be secondary to a very dense population, and industrial base. 

We cannot Ignore the objective data. Our lives depend on the immediate attention the Government pays to containing this menace.

All over the world, cities associated with high population and industrial base create huge waste, and are also well-known for their efficient waste management policies. 

Such is true of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, Punjab – India, Chicago- United states, London – Britain, among other locales around the World. 

We hereby call for a Nigerian national and state policy to effectively address Waste management. And such may not be done without adequate Population Census.

Aba, Umuahia and Onitsha – Cities in the South-east Nigeria, have certainly come into view.

Waste and Pollution do not make themselves. 

They are rather a sign of sub-par administration, neglected focus and deficient Population management. A recipe for the Slums which already exist in these cities/states.

At the APGA THINK-TANK, NIGERIA, it is our opinion that the Federal and State Governments have definitely overlooked something.

It is important to find out who and how the waste is created in these Cities. 

That will go a long way in organizing our priorities, including providing necessary management assistance. 

We, at the APGA THINK-TANK, NIGERIA, implore The South-East State Governors to conduct their own State census now, identifying who makes the waste, and where the waste is made. 

Their administration will benefit from such investment in the long run, resulting in more effective city/state planning and management, also local and national revenue generation following such planning.

In the interim, we encourage the Governors to redistribute the population by building more motorable roads, drainage away from the city, and far into the city suburbs. 

Such creates new public investment in housing and utilities. 

We also call for the relocation of the Public Markets and increased market stalls planning in the new areas, to accommodate the provision of utilities and emergency support systems. 

This will de-congest the immediate city environs, increase the property tax income base, create employment for new city workers and managers, while creating a liveable city/state. 

At the APGA THINK-TANK, NIGERIA, our Human welfare remains the top priority.

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