By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of Statistics, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran has pledged his organization’s preparedness to contribute to providing government with relevant information in tackling insecurity challenge in the country.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran gave the assurance at the Opening of the 45th Annual Statistical Conference of the Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The Theme of the conference which attracted participants from across the country is ” SECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA AND ASSOCIATED CONSEQUENCES: “
Adeniran said the security situation in the country will improve in the short to medium-term period , given the capacity for which the security agencies are known for, and recent successes being recorded.
He said as a responsible Coordinator of the Statistical System, the NBS will continue to review the situation and put measures in place to guarantee the safety of all their personnel and equipment, while ensuring to fulfil their statutory mandate of producing and disseminating data for all users.
Noting that the topic for this year’s conference, is very appropriate at this time, given the prevailing insecurity in the country, as well as the United Nations’ sustained push for data revolution in developing countries, he said.
“The spate of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in recent times has been well documented. This is in addition to other challenges in areas such as the economy, health, and education just to mention a few”.
According to him, the wave of terrorist attacks on civilians, kidnappings, and property destruction in virtually all parts of the country has occupied the attention and focus of government, private sector, international and civil society organizations, as well as the public.
“These have had profound negative effects on the general macroeconomic and socioeconomic conditions in the country, with no sector or group of persons immune from its effect. The national statistical system is not exempted in this regard”, he said.
Adeyemi listed the ways in which insecurity has affected the statistical system and the critical work they do pointing out that “it is necessary to take some time to reflect on their work as statisticians, and the uniqueness of this work in a developing country like ours.”
At the global level, he said Nigeria like most other countries, has signed up to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which sets out a framework for development in a sustainable manner, with a fundamental focus on leaving no one behind.
On the continental level, he said Nigeria is also a signatory to the Africa Agenda 2063, which is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.
The Statistician General explained that the strategic framework for delivering on Africa’s goal for inclusive and sustainable development and a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity are adequately addressed.
At National level, Adeniran said Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021 – 2025, which is a medium-term blueprint designed to unlock the country’s potentials in all sectors of the economy for a sustainable, holistic, and inclusive national development has been launched adding that the plan , if implemented, is expected to by 2025, to achieve an average economic growth of 4.6 percent, lift 35 million people out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs, and raise the revenue to GDP ratio from the current 6percent, to 15 percent by 2025.
Said he,” While all these are noble and worthwhile aspirations and targets, all these plans and goals are impossible and unachievable without statistics. It is the data we generate through our various systems of statistical production (Surveys, censuses, administrative systems, or big data) that will inform the policymakers of their successes or otherwise in the implementation of all these plans.”
