The World Bank has expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor statistical performance, noting that the country is lagging behind its aspirational peers such as Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and Brazil.
The World Bank team led by their Country Director, Ndiame Diop, and Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, Mr Johan Mistiaen, during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on Wednesday in Abuja that Nigeria’s statistical system was not on par with those of its developmental counterparts.
Speaking “Next Level Statistics to Support Nigeria’s Reform and Growth Agenda,” Mistiaen advised that an annual investment of between $10m and $15m in the country’s statistical infrastructure would significantly improve performance and align Nigeria with its peers.
A statement by the budget ministry said that Mr. Mistiaen suggested that investing about $10-15m annually into the Nigerian statistical system, could raise performance to that of its aspirational peers.
Responding, the minister assured that the Government would continue to guarantee the independence of the National Bureau of Statistics.
He commended the Bureau for consistently releasing credible and methodical data that have been relied upon by reputable international organisations.
The minister stressed that there would be no government interference in the operations of the NBS.
He also thanked the World Bank for its continued financial and technical support to the agency, which he described as crucial to its institutional strengthening.
In his remarks, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS, Mr. Adeyemi Adeniran, noted that improved investment in statistics will support national growth and development.
He lauded the Federal Government for increasing the agency’s budgetary allocation to its highest level in the last 10 years.
GIK/APA