Paul Edeh, the proprietor of Naija Ratels FC, a Nigeria Women Football League club, has urged the Nigerian government to facilitate and ensure the availability of an accurate database through a viable census.

He made the call on Tuesday in a statement to mark the 2022 World Population Day which is celebrated every July 11 and in this case, it was marked with a novelty match between his team and FCT selected side.

The match which was played on Monday at the Area 3 football pitch saw the FCT team featuring some female coaches and sports journalists in Abuja.

The encounter ended 2-0 in favour of Naija Ratels FC.

The event also produced ‘the Most Gorgeous Girl Nigeria’, in the person of Queen Esther Abimbola, while Rukayyah Mikayal emerged as the first runner-up.

Edeh stated on Tuesday that the country had a lot of people who pay lip service to weightier matters and make things of little or no consequence a priority.

“The novelty match is being used to appeal to Nigerians to take family planning seriously and good census will help the government plan effectively for the future of youths and effective economic planning”

“You will agree with that demographic Nigeria has not really been captured to the extent that it will give the government the leverage to be able to plan how to manage the populace.

“Indeed, we also know that there are some thematic areas in gender violence, poverty, and so many others that needed to attend.

“So, the world population day held every 11th day of July gives us that opportunity to highlight the need for us to be able to have a viable Census.

“You will agree with me that the last time we had a census in Nigeria was in 2006; to date, you can imagine that the world population has grown particularly in Nigeria.

“So, we have come to say that there is the need for us to be able to know our population so that we will be able to plan and indeed apportion our scarce resources available to the government,” Edeh said.

Whether he made the programme a yearly event, Barrister Edeh said, “For now we did this without support.

According to Edeh, the availability of resources will determine if the event will be sponsored on yearly basis.

“We look forward to collaborating in future with the government, spirited Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Nigerians who will help us to continue to galvanise efforts in ensuring we have a tenable census.

“We know that the government is planning one (census) for next year but we are also doubtful because 2023 is an election year and a new government coming on board may not seek to have that as its priority, that’s why this year’s event is even very much important.

“We cannot continue to have inaccurate data and that’s why you can see that the poverty rate in Nigeria has continued to be on the rise because we do not have the right tools to measure where our wealth should be distributed.

“Second, I want to also speak to Nigerians because the issue of the world population and this year’s theme is very profound because it highlights the fact that we have 8 billion people as against six billion we had about three, four, five years ago.

“So if you adjudge the world population viz-a-vis the fact that there is need for us to begin to have family planning so that, as much as possible, the population will be commensurable with the resources available.

Thirdly, we should be able to encourage the youth to be able to do the needful to ensure that they eschew violence so that we can have a better Nigeria.”