Abeokuta — Apparently fed up having not been counted after 72 hours since the commencement of the national headcount, residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital yesterday urged the Federal Government not to succumb to calls in some quarters to extend the exercise beyond Saturday.

As the exercise enters its fourth day today, thousands of people in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-ode, Ilaro and other major cities in Ogun State, the home state of President Olusegun Obasanjo were still itching to be counted.

Their major complaints were shortage of materials, especially form 001, late arrival of the enumerators or non-appearance of enumerators at all in some areas.

Majority of those who spoke with our reporter said government has no reason for keeping them at home for over a week without the enumerators to register them for the exercise.

When THISDAY went round the city capital yesterday, the situation was critical, as anxious people were seen in front of their residences waiting for the enumerators to come.

According to the people, the efforts to get registered at all cost were based on the fact that the government has said it would be difficult for anybody who was not enumerated to secure his Certificate of Occupancy, development levy and enjoy some other benefits from the government.

"And we have been at home for four days, without going to work, and at the end of it some of us have not been counted, and some people are also calling for extension.

If the government decides to extend it they may not find anybody at home again," they said.

They expressed disgust at what they described as shoddy arrangement which would not bring the desire result.

"This is double loss for me and my family. I have remained at home for four days in accordance with government's directive hoping to be enumerated. "This is a shoddy arrangement. My house, family and tenants have not been numbered let alone its occupants being counted," another resident also complained.

However, the state governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel has assured that more materials were on the way from Abuja.

The governor who also monitored the exercise further appealed for calm on the part of the people, saying that everybody would be counted.