Northern Pulse: UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey in Kaduna Hits 90% Coverage

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics says it has achieved about 90 per cent coverage across the state in the ongoing national UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 7.

Dr. Bukar Alhaji, Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau, said this on Friday in Zaria at a field trip to Unguwan Magume, Zaria LGA of Kaduna state.

Alhaji described the progress as tremendous, noting that no fewer than 200 households remain to complete the exercise.

He said the survey is the seventh round (MICS 7), following six previous editions, and collects data on children, adolescents and adults to guide evidence-based policymaking.

According to him, child questionnaires assess nutrition, immunisation and related indicators, while adolescents aged five to seventeen are evaluated on school attendance and out-of-school status.

He explained that adult questionnaires, targeting ages 15 to 49, examine household socio-economic conditions to generate accurate data for development planning.

Alhaji said the training began in November 2025, while fieldwork commenced in December and is expected to conclude in March 2026 after four months of intensive data collection.

For Kaduna State, he said about 1,000 households were sampled across 50 enumeration areas, with 20 households selected per area to ensure statewide representation.

Alhaji expressed satisfaction that no cluster was left uncovered due to insecurity, stressing that all listed areas had been successfully reached.

He emphasised that data is critical to policymaking, noting that findings are translated into policy briefs and forwarded to decision-makers for implementation and impact assessment.

Drawing from the sixth survey round (MICS 6), he said interventions included building schools and primary health care facilities in underserved communities across the state.

He added that primary health care centres now exist in all 255 wards in Kaduna, attributing the expansion to data-driven planning.

He explained that while the survey is conducted every five years nationwide, the state complements it with a general household survey every two years at local government level.

Usman Abbas of the National Bureau of Statistics, Supervisor for Kaduna Team One, said 18 clusters had been covered smoothly, mostly in rural communities.

He noted that even Fulani settlements were reached without security challenges, expressing optimism that the new data would further improve living conditions.

Dr. Gerida Birukila, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, described the exercise as globally respected and essential for measuring progress and addressing inequalities.

She said without such data, governments and partners would be working blindly, adding that the survey tracks changes in health, nutrition, water, sanitation and education.

Fatima Ibrahim, an enumerator, commended community cooperation, explaining that respondents were eager to participate in spite occasional questions about how the data would be used.

She assured that the survey follows a systematic sampling process and that responses represent entire communities, reinforcing its credibility and impact.

Alhaji Kasimu Abdullahi, a Community Leader at Anguwan Magume, commended the survey team for engaging residents respectfully and explaining the purpose of the exercise before commencing interviews.

He said the community members cooperated fully, describing the exercise as timely and important for identifying pressing needs in education, health and basic services.

Abdullahi expressed optimism that the findings would translate into tangible development projects, urging authorities to ensure that the data collected leads to visible improvements in the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that MICS is a household survey program developed by UNICEF to collect statistically rigorous data on key indicators for children and women.

It tracks progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding health, education, child protection, water and sanitation, among others.(NAN)