By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
As part of efforts to check rising insecurity in the state, the Niger State Government has concluded plans to commence digital data collection for properties, particularly residences in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Chanchaga and Bosso (Minna metropolis).
Data capturing of all properties in the six LGAs apart from enabling government to ascertain areas that needed more social amenities as daily influx of people into the state continue, but primarily to address issues of insecurity bedevilling the state.
Niger state commissioner for Finance and Economic planning, Alhaji Zakari Abubakar, who disclosed this at the opening of a 5-day, Training of Enumerators on the data collection on properties which took place at Nasiha Hotels, Minna, said the programme is also to strengthen land administration across the state.
Zakari Abubakar who is a Special Guest at the event, said the need for Niger state to have a comprehensive data on properties has become very necessary as it will go a long way in providing first hand information about property owners and possibly details of occupants.
The enumerators, according to the Commissioner, have been handed down as a very important responsibility hence should ensure that the data to be generated and provide to the state data bank are ‘not just accurate but very authentic’.
He said, “The successes and otherwise of this training or exercise that follows depends largely on the data to be generated by you, hence you must execute this very important task with all the attention and sincerity it deserved”.
Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Mukhtar Nasale, had earlier in a welcome address, said the training which is in partnership with the World Bank assisted and the Federal Government of Nigeria under the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, is to ensure and maintain a united digital base on all properties in the state.
Mukhtar Nasale said the enumeration in its pilot stage will cover six local government areas, starting with Chanchaga and Bosso which made up Minna, the state capital and Kontagora, Bida, Suleja and Borgu.
While emphasising the need to be committed towards ensuring dedication and accuracy to the very important assignment, Nasale encouraged the enumerators to meet with the local authorities when they get to their respective duty posts for ease of actualizing set objectives.
The enumerators will be handed down with the necessary working tools for easy execution of the assignment, Nasale said as he enjoined them to ensure they maintain high a sense of maturity and decorum while interacting with traditional rulers in the affected areas. NNL.
