By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The National Population Commission (NPC) in Cross River State has denied allegations that obsolete materials meant for the postponed 2023 Population and Housing Census were diverted for political purposes, saying the items were disposed of through an auction exercise approved by its national board.
The State Director of the Commission, Prince Odey Roland Auguser, said in a statement on Tuesday that the NPC board approved the disposal of obsolete census materials on July 14, 2026, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other relevant regulations.
He explained that certified auctioneers engaged by the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja were responsible for conducting the exercise, while state offices were directed to make specified materials available for auction.
According to him, the items approved for disposal in Cross River were 6,080 power banks, 360 extension boxes, 6,082 raincoats, 117 life jackets and 4.6 tonnes of manuals of instructions.
Auguser said laptops and tablets, which featured in allegations circulated on social media, were not among the items approved for auction in the state.
He added that there was no directive from the Commission’s headquarters or the Federal Government for the materials to be sold specifically to NPC staff, contrary to claims attributed to the Cross River Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Good Governance.
The state director said the approved items were handed over to an auction team led by the Deputy Director of General Services at the NPC headquarters on October 12, the scheduled date for the exercise in Cross River.
He acknowledged that the auction attracted some disorder at the commission’s state office premises over two days but described the exercise as successfully conducted.
The statement also rejected allegations that the Federal Commissioner representing Cross River State on the NPC board, Alex Ukam, diverted the materials for use as campaign gifts for an APC candidate contesting the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency seat.
The Commission urged the public to disregard the allegations, maintaining that the disposal exercise followed directives issued by its national board.
