The National Population Commission, NPC, has debunked insinuations that the 2023 Population and Housing Census would canvass questions on the religious affiliations of respondents.

The clarification was made following a viral audio message circulating on WhatsApp, alleging that the religious affiliations of respondents will be discussed in the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

The viral message alleged that the question bordering on religion is intended to suppress the numbers of a set of believers in the process.

But in a swift clarification in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Isiaka Yahaya, on Wednesday, he emphasized that the Commission had excluded such items on its questionnaire to save the census data from needless controversies and attention.

It partly read,” To avoid doubt, National Population Commission wishes to state unequivocally that the 2023 Population Census will not discuss questions on religious affiliations of respondents”.

The Population and Housing Census is an important economic tool for development, usually a starting point for any government desirous of genuine growth.

NPC had fixed May 3 for the commencement of the 2023 census.