By Gwurld4026 
Nigeria’s $15M Investment Needed to Boost Stats System
The World Bank has recommended that Nigeria invest between $10 million and $15 million annually to enhance its national statistical system, aiming to bring its performance in line with countries like Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and Colombia.
Johan Mistiaen, the World Bank’s Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, highlighted that Nigeria’s current statistical performance lags behind these nations. He emphasized that consistent investment in statistical infrastructure would improve data quality, which is essential for informed policy reforms and effective economic planning.
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the independence of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). He praised the NBS for its credible data dissemination and assured continued support without governmental interference.
Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, noted that the NBS has received its highest funding in the past decade under the current administration. He emphasized that increased investment and collaboration with development partners would further enhance the agency’s capacity to meet the growing demand for reliable data.
Investing in the statistical system is seen as a strategic move to bolster Nigeria’s development efforts, ensuring that policymakers have access to accurate and timely data for decision-making.