The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has called for stronger collaboration among data-generating institutions to transform administrative records into reliable evidence for effective governance and national development.
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, made the call on Wednesday at the first Bi-Annual Meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) in Kano.
The meeting focused on the theme, “Unlocking Data Dividends for National Development: Advancing Administrative Statistics and Data-Driven Governance.”
Adeniran said Nigeria needed a modern statistical system capable of integrating data from multiple sources and converting it into credible evidence for policymaking and development planning.
He explained that the NCCS serves as a statutory mechanism established under the Statistics Act of 2007 to coordinate the National Statistical System, with the NBS serving as its coordinator.
According to him, the meeting provides an avenue for stakeholders to examine emerging global trends in statistics, review ongoing and planned activities, resolve challenges and deepen cooperation among data-producing institutions.
He noted that digital, telecommunications, financial and geospatial data were increasingly providing new insights into Nigeria’s economy and society beyond traditional censuses, surveys and administrative records.
“The question before us is therefore no longer simply whether data exists, but whether we can access, trust, integrate, analyze, protect it and, most importantly, turn it into evidence that improves decisions and people’s lives,” Adeniran said.
The NBS boss said the bureau was working to build a modern statistical system that responds to global developments and the growing demand for inclusive and impactful data.
He said Nigeria had joined initiatives, including the Power of Data High Impact Initiative, the Make Inclusive Data the Norm (MIDN) Initiative, and the Inclusive Data Charter, to strengthen the country’s statistical system.
Adeniran also disclosed that the NBS had completed the Ward Enumeration Exercise under the Renewed Hope Ward Development Program, coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
On the meeting’s theme, he said the country must stop treating data as a mere by-product of government activities and begin to recognize it as a strategic national asset.
He said effective use of data could improve policymaking, planning and resource allocation while strengthening accountability and deepening understanding of Nigeria’s economy and society.
Adeniran identified records generated daily by schools, hospitals, tax authorities, immigration and security agencies, courts and businesses as valuable sources that could complement surveys and censuses if properly managed, standardized and subjected to quality assurance.
He stressed that statistics would have little impact if policymakers failed to use them in making government decisions.
“Data-driven governance means that evidence should increasingly guide how the government identifies priorities, designs policies, allocates resources and measures results,” he said.
The Statistician-General urged NCCS members to strengthen institutional collaboration, treat administrative records as strategic national resources, embrace innovation, maintain professional standards and invest in human capacity.
Immigration Service Seeks Data Integration
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Kemi Nandap, said the agency plays a critical role in generating administrative data for national development.
Nandap, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General, D.M. Bagari, said every passport issued, visa processed and movement recorded at Nigeria’s borders generated information with potential value for policymaking.
She said immigration data could support planning in areas such as foreign direct investment, labor migration, tourism, population estimates and national identity management.
“Data generated in isolation loses its power. To truly unlock data dividends, administrative statistics must be standardized, harmonized, and integrated into the National Statistical System,” she said.
Nandap pledged to strengthen collaboration with the NBS and other NCCS member agencies while developing data-sharing frameworks that comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
Yusuf: Credible Data Essential for Development Planning
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, also described credible data as indispensable to effective development planning.
Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim, said governments at all levels needed reliable information to understand citizens’ needs and properly set development priorities.
“Effective planning requires knowing where people are, what they need and priority areas,” he said.
The governor described the meeting as an important platform for statisticians and other stakeholders to strengthen the use of data in government planning and development.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve the quality, availability and use of data for better planning and service delivery.
