Abuja: A Nigerian in the Diaspora, Mr. Jerome Okoh, has urged the Federal Government to implement a comprehensive grassroots data infrastructure to improve security, economic management, and job creation. Okoh, an economist, emphasized the importance of a reliable database of citizens from ward to national level to address these critical issues in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okoh highlighted the proposed Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN) as an integrated data infrastructure designed for real-time data governance. Despite the Federal Government signing a service agreement in 2007, the implementation of BRISIN has stalled. Okoh believes that BRISIN could tackle Nigeria’s development challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, and corruption, by providing accurate data for planning and decision-making.
The project is expected to create up to 10 million jobs and generate N1.5 trillion annually in internally generated revenue. Okoh urged the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to support BRISIN implementation, citing global leaders’ insistence on Nigeria having a citizen database to fight criminality and build a credible economy.