NPC Plans Mapping, Survey of Nigerians in the Diaspora

Chief Festus Odimegwu, Chairman, NPC

by: Damilola Oyedele

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said it would commence the conduct of the Diaspora Survey and Mapping of Nigerians including researching ways to work with stakeholders to ensure the return of influential Nigerians to contribute to nation building.

This is part of its plans for 2013 in addition to the conduct of Nigeria Youth Migration Survey and clearing the backlog of migration arrival and departure cards.

The Chairman of the commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, in his keynote address at the public presentation of the 2010 Internal Migration report in Abuja Thursday, added that the youth survey would research reasons for the spate of violent and immoral acts in the country with best ways to reverse the ugly trends.

He added that the surveys would also research ways to attract value and adding immigrants that will create jobs and add value to raw materials and natural resources exploration and discourage immigrants that collude with Nigerians on corrupt practices or engage in criminal activities.

Odimegwu, who was represented by the chairman of the Technical Committee for the Survey, Dr. Festus Uzor, lauded the support of the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) for the 2010 Internal Migration Survey.

“The collection, processing and analysis of migration statistics require specialised skills. This is a relatively new area for the commission and we will need to build technical competence to go forward,” he said.

We therefore solicit support for capacity building for members and staff on migration through the training programmes and study tours,” he said.

Odimegwu also appealed for support for the provision of equipment and resources for data collection, processing and publication of migration data.