The Nigeria Consular in New York has concluded plans to conduct a census of Nigerians resident in the US.

Consul General in the Nigerian Mission in New York, Mr. Ibrahim Auwalu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in New York said the registration would be carried out across the 20 states including North East and Mid West of the US.

He explained that, already, registration forms had been designed for the exercise stating all relevant information that would be required especially blood group.

Auwalu said that the Consulate was embarking on the census because of the non availability of data of Nigerians in the US.

He said a number of cultural groups, religious organizations, local councils and prominent individuals had agreed to mobilise their members for the success of the exercise.

He said that the registration would dovetail into the issuance of the e-passport to Nigerians adding that the Consulate had taken delivery of a data capturing machine.

Auwalu also said identity cards had also been designed for Nigerians in the Diaspora and that the Consulate would be collaborating with the National Identity Card Management Commission for full endorsement.

“We want the endorsement of this agency so that every one would recognise it as a Nigerian I.D Card for those in the Diaspora.

“We also want to use this data to convince government back home to give Nigerians living abroad the right to vote during elections,‘‘ he said.

According to Auwalu, the census can also be a source of revenue to government as all those who want to use the data arising from it may be required to pay a fee before getting access to it.

He further explained that the exercise would enable the government to keep track of many generations of Nigerian migrants living in the US.

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I did not read the post. I wonder how a government that cannot conduct a credible head count here in Nigeria would dream of doing so in the US. Is this another ploy to spend tax payers money? of what use would they put the figure generated? Who rreally wants to know how many nigerians are in theUS? Stupid policy makers we have are at work again. nonsense.