The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Reverend Joseph Hayab, has urged the federal government to ensure that religion and language are included in future population counts.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun on Saturday, September 20, 2025, he explained that proper identification of Nigerians is crucial for a fairer representation of the country’s true diversity.
Rev. Hayab stressed that many citizens are wrongly categorized simply because of where they come from. He argued that being born or raised in the North should not automatically make one Hausa or Muslim, since the region is home to various ethnic and religious groups that deserve recognition in official records.
Citing his own background as an example, the CAN leader noted that he is Ham by tribe and a Christian. He said this personal reality illustrates the danger of blanket assumptions that ignore Nigeria’s cultural and religious complexity. According to him, documenting these identities in a national census is necessary to prevent the erasure of minority groups.
POWER OF FAVOUR?
(Silent, Powerful, Spiritual)
Don’t miss out on your desires. You are not the only one pursuing them. Command power of favour to achieve your heart desires:
In your undertakings. Work. Job. Career. Profession. Business. Politics. Workplace. Powerful position. Patronage. Selling. Contract. People/ crowd. Global fame. Love matters. Etc.
SPIRITUAL CONSULTATION ON:
Spiritual power of favour over efforts alone for desired outcome.
Overcome delay with power of favour.
Overcome rejection with power of favour.
Other matters.
For Spiritual Consultation, Guidance, Contact:
DR. J.A FAROS
Call/ Whatsapp + 2 3 4 0 7 0 3 0 5 1 4 0 6 3
Sango-ota. Lagos. Nigeria.
Distance no barrier( 3 options)
By Unlimiting Power of God, Every Dream materialized.
He further revealed that there are parts of the North that many Nigerians do not know about. Specifically, he pointed out that in some villages in Kano State, no single mosque exists, even though the public perception suggests otherwise.
He accused some political leaders of deliberately concealing such facts in order to maintain misleading narratives about the dominance of one religion or ethnic group.
Rev. Hayab expressed concern that several communities in the North have been suppressed and silenced over the years. He said these groups have continued to live under the weight of misrepresentation, which denies them visibility in national conversations. However, he insisted that their existence and contributions should not be ignored.
According to him, every community, no matter how small, deserves to be recognized as part of Nigeria. He described it as unjust for anyone to rewrite or distort the identity of others for political advantage. For him, fairness and inclusiveness are non-negotiable in a diverse country like Nigeria.
The CAN leader maintained that Nigeria cannot progress unless every tribe and religion is openly acknowledged. He argued that Southern Kaduna and other minority groups are not afraid of being counted, and that a transparent census with details of both tribe and religion would finally reveal the true picture of the nation’s population.
He called on the federal government to approach the next headcount with sincerity and commitment to justice. According to him, doing so would not only expose the reality of Nigeria’s demographic structure but also promote unity and fairness among the different groups that make up the federation.
Rev. Hayab insisted that an honest census is not just about numbers but about respect, identity, and equal treatment. He explained that once Nigerians see themselves reflected accurately in official data, it will help reduce suspicion and resentment, while also giving confidence to minority groups that their voices matter.
The CAN chairman stated: “Someone shouldn’t call me Hausa or assume I am just a northerner simply because I come from the North. No; I’m Ham by tribe, and I’m a Christian. There are villages in Kano State that have no single mosque, but many Nigerians don’t even know that.”BREAKING: Tinubu’s Kaduna Visit Affirms His Role as Leader for All – Sunday Dare