Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged statisticians to strengthen Nigeria’s data systems and promote evidence based policymaking, saying credible statistics are essential for economic planning, public accountability and improved service delivery.
Shettima made the call on Thursday at the third International Conference and Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) in Abuja. He was represented by Fred Eklaga, technical assistant in the Office of the Vice President.
The conference, themed “From Legacy to Leadership: 50 Years of Promoting Statistical Development in Nigeria,” brought together statisticians, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to examine the role of statistical development in national progress.
Shettima said the Federal Government’s economic reforms required reliable data to assess their effects on poverty, employment, education, healthcare and infrastructure. He warned that without credible statistics, authorities risk confusing government spending with actual results.
“Without credible statistics, government risks confusing expenditure with achievement, activity with productivity, and political declarations with measurable progress,” he said.
The vice president identified outdated population data, fragmented information systems, inadequate measurement of informal economic activities and limited agricultural statistics as major challenges facing Nigeria’s statistical system.
He noted that the country’s last national population census was conducted in 2006, leaving policymakers dependent on estimates and projections for planning, resource allocation and public service delivery.
Shettima called for a professionally conducted population census, stronger coordination among government institutions and more timely publication of reliable statistics.
He also emphasised the need for accurate agricultural data covering crop yields, cultivated land, livestock, storage capacity, post harvest losses and market prices. Such information, he said, could help authorities anticipate food shortages, improve planning and respond more effectively to emerging food security challenges.
On technology, Shettima said big data and artificial intelligence could improve forecasting, economic planning and public service delivery when supported by reliable information.
He explained that combining food price data, weather forecasts, satellite imagery and agricultural production figures could help government agencies identify potential shortages early and develop timely responses.
Businesses could also benefit from statistical analysis through improved demand forecasting, fraud detection, inventory management and the anticipation of supply chain disruptions.
However, Shettima cautioned that artificial intelligence could not produce dependable conclusions from poor quality data. He stressed the importance of protecting personal information, cybersecurity and confidentiality while expanding the use of digital technologies.
He said the Federal Government would work towards strengthening the National Bureau of Statistics, improving state statistical agencies and digitising administrative records.
The vice president urged CISON to strengthen professional standards, improve data quality, promote statistical literacy and expand training in modern statistical methods, AI assisted analysis and data ethics.
He also called for closer collaboration among government, academia and industry, as well as increased mentorship for young statisticians and wider opportunities for women in the profession.
“Behind every figure is a household seeking dignity. Behind every employment statistic is a person searching for opportunity,” he said, stressing the need to translate statistical information into improvements in human welfare.
Earlier, CISON President Godday Uwawunkonye Ebuh called for stronger funding and institutional independence for statistical bodies. He also urged the government to conduct the overdue population and housing census and strengthen statistical education in secondary schools.
Ebuh said reliable data were essential for governments to understand national challenges, allocate resources effectively and measure development outcomes. He called for functional state bureaus of statistics, improved professional training and greater public access to credible information.
The conference highlighted the importance of moving beyond data collection to the consistent use of statistical evidence in policy design, budgeting and performance assessment. Strengthening Nigeria’s statistical institutions, improving data coordination and ensuring timely access to reliable information remain central to building more accountable and effective public administration.
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