COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: Nigeria government palliatives using wrong database

…A Necessary Call For Biometric Population and Housing Census After the Pandemic

It is no longer news that Chinesevirus popularly known as Coronavirus or COVID-19 has brought about shutdown of countries across the globe, as the world battles to contain the spread of the virus. In a bid to curb the wide spread of this deadly contagion, governments of countries have come up with tough measures such as travel restrictions; close down of businesses, offices, schools, markets and worship places; imposition of stay-at-home order among other containment and curative measures that adversely affects the livelihoods of the citizens. To mitigate the economic crisis as result of the lockdown, the government of these countries have provided economic stimulus package for the citizens. In America, Europe and some other countries, the distribution of the relief package have been more coordinated, efficient, impactful and data-driven. Its so because of availability of reliable and accurate database of population of those countries which made much easier for government to reach out to the targeted beneficiaries.

In Nigeria, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed lack of accurate database of Nigerian population. Federal Government ordered cessation of movements and stay-at-home in the frontline States and FCT worst hit by coronavirus infections while other States Governors also replicated stay-at-home order in their various States. In view that the restrictions will bring untold hardship to the masses, the government at Federal and State levels came up with palliatives to cushion the negative impacts on the livelihoods of the poor masses. The President of Nigeria ordered and approved immediate payment of four months of N5,000 monthly stipends and provision of other relief packages to the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This aimed at ameliorating the harsh economic effects the stay-at-home order will have in the livelihoods of unemployed, low wage workers, micro and small business owners and poor Nigerians who live on daily hustles within this period of containing the pandemic. For the lockdown to be effective and achieve the desired result of reducing the spread of coronavirus disease through social distancing, the stimulus packages should be efficiently distributed to the targeted vulnerable Nigerians, so to keep them at home without them being tempted to go out in search of daily bread. This is in consideration that these sect of Nigerians are already faced with challenges of basic amenities in their various homes such as epileptic power supply, low-spaced or very uncomfortable homes while some are homeless. To order them to stay at home is already an uphill task and to stay at home without palliative is impossible task. It would be so difficult to keep a hungry man at home without provision of food and expect maximum obedience to the restrictive order of stay-at-home. Such a person will rather go out in search of what to eat and be infected with the coronavirus than to obey stay-at-home order and die of hunger. This is more reason government should not stop at providing relief packages but ensuring that those packages get to the rightful beneficiaries. To achieve the efficient and equitable distribution of relief packages to these vulnerable Nigerians and create the desired impact on their livelihoods, Government needs accurate database of the population for planning and implementation.

So far, the distribution of Federal Government palliatives have not created desired meaningful impact on the livelihoods of the targeted poor masses hence pocket of protests here and there and violations of stay-at-home order. This because the intended beneficiaries which are the poorest of the poor have not been captured in the palliative distribution. Most of the people who received the payment of Conditional Cash Transfer and other relief materials are not the vulnerable poor Nigerians. There was no transparency and accountability in the distribution of the relief packages hence why the stimulus ended up in wrong hands. That created room for few people to manipulate the system due to inaccurate statistical database of the real poor Nigerians and enrich themselves and their families. How billions of Naira was share within days without reaching majority of the intended beneficiaries is still mystery to many Nigerians asking to see the list of beneficiaries.

It was reported that about 11 million Nigerians are on the National Social Register receiving the monthly stipend of N5,000 since 2016 and that about 2.6 million households have been captured under the Conditional Cash Transfer payment and distribution of food items within this short period of coronavirus lockdown. Who the recipients are and how Federal Government generated the names in the so called Social Register are questions begging for answer? What modality was used in selection of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians in the Social Register? Although, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, stated that Community Base Target was used to identify the poor Nigerians where by community leaders were asked to identify poor families in various communities. Regrettably, that crude method can not guarantee nor generate reliable and accurate database of poor Nigerians because, obviously it would be susceptible to manipulation and sharp practices by those leaders in charge. The community leaders can easily shortlist ghost names and names of their family members, friends, cronies who are well to do in the social register thereby denying the less privileged Nigerians the opportunity to benefit.

There is no shortcut to comprehensive, reliable and accurate database of Nigerian population, if not biometric Population and Housing Census which will capture population size, composition, distribution, Household characteristics and social status of all Nigerians. Population Census remains the most comprehensive source of demographic data that not only provides invaluable insights into the living conditions of the people but also serves as guide in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes aimed at improving these same conditions. Census provides the compass that ensures development connects to the people.

Biometric Population and Housing Census that will be conducted by National Population Commission will provide the country with the demographic data platform for onward harmonization of all data from other data generating Agencies such as NIMC, INEC, Immigration Service, FRSC, NCC, Banks, NBS, FIRS etc. The comprehensive harmonised database will link each individual details together and will be regularly updated by the various responsible offices through activities of every Nigerian. Through the harmonised database, it would be easier for population managing organization(National Population Commission) to monitor and identify each individual socio-economic status as well as provide demographic data of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to be reached in such a time like this. Without biometric Population census demographic data in place, data from other data generating Agencies can not be solely relied on as comprehensive database for all Nigerians as those data only addresses sections of Nigeria population. This is why suggestions by some Nigerians for Federal Government to use bank BVN database to share stimulus will be difficult to fly as it will not capture most of the intended beneficiaries who do not have bank accounts. BVN profiled bank customers are just about 40million out of over 200million Nigerians. It is only biometric Population and Housing Census that can capture every Nigerian and generate comprehensive accurate database for planning. Unfortunately, the population and development scene of Nigeria has undergone tremendous changes within the last few years such that reliance on population data generated through the last population and housing census in 2006 will not be accurate and useful hence the need for another census.

It would be less effective and counter productive for a country to plan without data. Data is the lifeblood of decision making and the raw material for accountability. Without high quality data providing the right information on the right things at the right time, designing, implementing, monitoring, evaluation of policies effectively, becomes almost impossible. This is why United Nations stipulated for countries to conduct population census at regular intervals of five or ten years period. Countries less endowed with resources than Nigeria have been able to institutionalize the conduct of census in their respective countries. In Africa, not less than 34 countries have participated uninterruptedly in the last three or four rounds of global censuses. In the light of that, National Assembly need to urgently enact laws that will compel and institutionalize the conduct of Population census in the country.

It will be in the interest of the country to conduct population and housing census after the coronavirus pandemic to avoid subsequent data crisis in planning. In making this call, I am not unmindful the concerns that our dear country is confronted with numerous challenges ranging from insecurity, the dwindling revenue base of national economy due to global drastic drop in oil price and political-induced tensions, however, these challenges should not be allowed to place a permanent lid on the national population and housing census. The country has so much to gain from conducting an accurate and reliable census and so much to lose if it takes the convenient option of pushing the census to a later date. No meaningful people-oriented planning can be carried out without accurate and reliable demographic data.

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The poor masses are crying foul play in distribution of stimulus packages because the Federal Government failed to do the right thing first by conducting long overdue biometric population census which will lay the solid foundation for national planning and implementation of policies. We are where we are now because Nigeria has no reliable and accurate database to be used to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable Nigerians within this lockdown period. Due to wrong database, what was meant to cushion the pains of the poor Nigerians in this lockdown ended up in the wrong hands who seized the opportunity to enrich themselves. The grave implication is the violations of stay-at-home order and non adherence to social distancing by these poor Nigerians who can not be blamed for their actions. Non observance of the Federal Government preventive order will make mess of the serious efforts put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country. The lack of reliable and accurate database is a bitter lesson for all.

Meanwhile, at the interim pending the next census to generate comprehensive data, Federal Government should revamp palliative distribution mechanism and strategy to reach the needy beneficiaries. The new approach should be inclusive and accountable. The Federal Government should involve the private sector, relevant government organizations and development experts with proven engagements in community services to lead in the distribution of palliatives in the communities to reach more intended beneficiaries. It is obvious that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have been overwhelmed with distribution of palliatives to the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Plans to provide two months free electricity to Nigerians is a welcome development that is necessary at this time of lockdown.

Special commendation to the private sector that donated over N21 Billion Naira and other good spirited Nigerians who gave out money and food items to alleviate the suffering of poor Nigerians in this challenging time. Special praise to all frontline health workers who risk their lives daily to attend and treat coronavirus patients. God Almighty will richly reward you all. To Nigerians, it will be in our own interests to unite and fight this common enemy called coronavirus by maintaining regular hygiene, washing our hands often with soaps and alcohol base sanitizer, wear face mask and above all observe social distancing. Definitely, we shall overcome this contagion.
Long Live Nigeria

By Stanley O. Nwosu…

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