By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia
NIGERIA’s STATISTICAL system falls behind its global peers, the World Bank has noted, urging increased investment to enhance data accuracy and reliability.
During a courtesy visit to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, the World Bank’s practice manager for West and Central Africa, Johan Mistiaen, highlighted the country’s lagging statistical performance compared to Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and Colombia.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is Nigeria’s official statistical agency responsible for data collection, analysis, and dissemination across economic, social, and environmental sectors. Despite its role as the authoritative source of national data, concerns remain over its performance on a global scale.
A statement issued on Thursday by Julie Osagie-Jacobs, director of information and public relations at the ministry, noted that the World Bank delegation was led by its country director, Ndiame Diop.
Mistiaen, in a presentation on enhancing Nigeria’s statistical capabilities to support its reform and growth agenda, stressed that the country’s statistical performance is below international standards. He recommended an annual investment of $10 million to $15 million to bring Nigeria’s data system on par with its aspirational peers.
In response, Minister Bagudu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the independence of the NBS, assuring that the agency would continue to receive support to fulfill its mandate. He praised the NBS for consistently delivering credible statistical data, which has been widely used by international organisations.
Bagudu also commended the World Bank for its financial and technical assistance in strengthening the NBS.
Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician-general and CEO of the NBS, echoed the importance of investment in statistics for national growth and development. He acknowledged that recent increases in federal funding had reached their highest levels in a decade, positioning the agency for improved performance.
With enhanced financial backing and collaboration with development partners, Adeniran expressed optimism that the NBS could achieve better results in delivering high-quality data that supports Nigeria’s economic and policy planning.
