School children
The National Population Commission (NPopC) has covered 23 clusters in 10 out of the 14 local government areas of Zamfara under its National Education and Demographic Data Survey (NEDS).

This is contained in a report of the exercise made available to the News men on Monday in Gusau by the State Director of the Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Maradun.

According to the report, the NPopC has succeeded in covering all the clusters in spite of the security challenges in the state.

The 10 local government areas covered are Anka, Bungudu, Bukkuyum, Birnin-Magaji, Kaura-Namoda, Gusau, Maru, Shinkafi, Talata-Mafara and Zurmi.

The report said the 23 clusters covered during the exercise included two clusters in Gusau Local Government area including Mareri and Mada, four clusters in Maru Local Government area at Kudu-Rudu, Kokochi, Dangulbi and Daraga communities.

Other clusters covered were Yar-katsina, Nahuche communities in Bungudu Local Government area and Bardi Gasa-hula communities in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas, respectively.

In Birnin-Magaji Local Government area three clusters were covered comprising Gari-Gera, Shamushalle and Kokiya communities.

Five clusters covered in Zurmi Local Government area comprised Zurmi, Birnin-Tsaba, Kabaka, Gidan-Kyatta and Jaya communities.

Others are Mafara, Galadi clusters at Talata-Mafara and Shinkafi local government areas respectively, and three clusters in Kaura-Namoda Local Government area at Kaura, Agira and Kurya communities.

The report explained that the main objective of the survey was to provide data on formulation, implementation and monitoring of courses designed to achieve the goal of education for the school aged children.

It commended the state government, traditional rulers, local authorities as well as development partners over the success of the exercise.