By Adenike Lawal
The World Bank has urged Nigeria to invest between $10 million and $15 million annually to strengthen its national statistical system and match global leaders like Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and Colombia.
Johan Mistiaen, the World Bank Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, made this recommendation during a meeting with Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.
He stressed that Nigeria’s statistical capacity lags behind its peers, calling for consistent funding to improve data quality for effective policy-making.
Mistiaen emphasized that better funding would enhance Nigeria’s ability to generate timely and reliable data essential for economic planning.
Senator Bagudu assured that the government remains committed to strengthening the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), praising its global recognition in data collection.
Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, noted that the NBS has received its highest budget allocation in a decade under the current administration.
He called for sustained financial support and collaboration with development partners to meet growing data demands.
The push for increased investment underscores the crucial role of accurate statistics in shaping Nigeria’s economic policies and global competitiveness.
