Abuja: Experts in the nation’s data and development sector have called for a more integrated, inclusive and technology-driven statistical system to improve decision-making and national development. The experts made the call during a panel session in commemoration of the World Statistics Day organised by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Paul Alaje, Chief Economist at SPM Professionals Associate Ltd, called for the establishment of a national data-sharing platform that would link the public and private sectors as well as federal, state and local governments. He emphasized the need for a national platform that allows agencies to collect, share, and access data seamlessly. Alaje highlighted that achieving such a system would require three key actions, including empowering the NBS beyond producing routine statistics and stressing the need for adequate funding.
Dr Godday Ebuh, the President of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON), also stressed the need for a unified data system across the country, noting that data must not be fragmented but connected in a single ecosystem. He advocated for a cohesive national data framework that connects all producers and users of statistics.
Dr Bala Yunusa, the Senior Technical Adviser OSSAP-SDGs, mentioned that strengthening the institutional capacity of the NBS was crucial to ensuring quality data production. Dr Moses Okpanache, Director of Statistics at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), underscored the importance of empowering state statistical agencies, which are closest to where most data originate.
Prof. Abubakar Yahaya from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, pointed out that inclusiveness and data literacy were essential in ensuring that marginalized groups were not left out of the national data conversation. The session concluded with a collective call for collaboration among data producers, users, and policymakers to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical ecosystem.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2025 World Statistics Day has the theme “Driving Change with Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone.”