By Okeoghene Akubuike
The Federal Government, on Monday, unveiled strategic documents to strengthen evidence-based governance and inclusive development in Nigeria.
The documents include the National Power of Data High Impact Initiative, National Strategy for the Development of Statistics(NSDS),2024 to 2028, and Review of SDGs in Nigeria, 2024.
Speaking at the unveiling, Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that the initiatives underscored government’s resolve to ensure that decisions are guided by reliable, timely and credible data.
Akume was represented by Dr Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the SGF.
He commended the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for producing what he described as comprehensive strategic documents capable of transforming governance.
According to him, the Power of Data Roadmap and the NSDS 2024–2028 are not mere policy documents.
He described them as instruments of national transformation aimed at ensuring efficient allocation of public resources, inclusive development and visibility for all citizens.
“The foundation upon which this vision of a modern state would be built is a strong national statistical system that produces statistical evidence in a timely, efficient and sustainable manner,” he said
Akume said that the world was experiencing a data revolution driven by technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, satellite imagery and digital platforms.
He said that countries that prioritise data as strategic national infrastructure tend to record faster socio-economic progress.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was built on clarity, transparency and measurable results,
The SGF said that prosperity, security and inclusive development could not be achieved without accurate and reliable data.
He called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as subnational governments, to mainstream the use of data in policy formulation, programme implementation and performance tracking.
He also pledged to serve as a national “Power of Data Champion” to advocate a culture where data is treated as a strategic asset across government and society.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, said that both documents were conceived by the NBS in collaboration with partners.
Bagudu said that they would serve as the blueprint for developing Nigeria’s national statistical system over the next four to five years.
He was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Deborah Onoh.
He said that the Renewed Hope Agenda, with its eight priority areas, could not be realised without adequate and reliable statistics.
He said that government’s support for NBS since 2023 had led to the completion of critical statistical exercises, which include the rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index.
Bagudu said that recent economic indicators, including declining inflation and improved GDP growth, as well as positive outlooks from international credit rating agencies, showed early gains from ongoing reforms.
He stressed the need for sustained evidence-based decision-making to ensure that reforms translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
The Statistician-General (S-G) of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, said that the Power of Data was unveiled during the UN General Assembly in September 2023.
Adeniran said that the document was one of the 12 UN high-impact initiatives aimed at speeding up progress towards the SDGs.
He said that it was designed to provide a coordinated political framework for private sector participation and support from development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in building Nigeria’s data architecture.
The document, he said, emphasised the need for investment in data infrastructure to enable the production of quality data capable of meeting the needs of all users.
“The Power of Data outlines seven strategic pillars.
“The pillars work together to ensure not only the production of quality data but also its effective utilisation in daily activities, private sector decision-making, and government policy formulation and programming.”
He said that the initiative urged all data suppliers to properly document information for easier access, and encourages data producers like sub-national offices, private agencies, and academia to share and make data accessible to users.
“The suppliers of information, the producers of data and the users of data are all encouraged to play their respective roles and responsibilities. Everyone must work together to make the system function effectively,” he said.
On the NSDS 2024-2028, Adeniran said that the newly unveiled document represented the third phase of the strategy, building on two previous phases.
He said that the third NSDS incorporated modern approaches to data production, including infrastructure, frameworks and best practices that meet international standards.
“The framework for using artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and spatial analysis in data production and reporting is fully captured in the NSDS,” he said.
The S-G said that the third NSDS expanded the national data ecosystem by mainstreaming academia and research institutions into the National Statistics System.
He said that collaboration with researchers was essential for producing high-quality data.
On SDGs tracking, Adeniran said that over 200 indicators had been assessed out of the 263 global indicators, adding that the exercise helped to measure the country’s performance and guide development efforts.
He said that investment in data production directly translated to national development, citing studies which show that every one dollar invested in data yields up to 32 dollars in development returns.
“Investing in data is investing in the development of the country and the economy. Ultimately, the goal is to drive development and ensure that its impact is felt by the common man,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
