The World Bank has expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor statistical performance, noting that the country lags behind its aspirational peers such as Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and Brazil.

According to a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mrs Julie Osagie-Jacobs, this was noted during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, by a delegation from the World Bank led by Country Director, Ndiame Diop, and Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, Mr Johan Mistiaen, on Wednesday.

In his presentation titled “Next Level Statistics to Support Nigeria’s Reform and Growth Agenda,” Mistiaen stated that Nigeria’s statistical system was not on par with those of its developmental counterparts.

He 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.

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The statement read in part, “Earlier, Mr. Johan Mistiaen in his presentation on the next level statistics to support Nigeria’s reform and growth agenda, observed that the country’s statistical performance was not at par with its aspirational peers as Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and Brazil.

“He suggested that investing about $10-15m annually into the country’s statistical system can raise performance to that of its aspirational peers.”

Responding, Bagudu assured that the Federal 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.

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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.

On his part, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, noted that improved investment in statistics would support national growth and development.

He lauded the Federal Government for increasing the agency’s budgetary allocation to its highest level in the last ten years.

He, however, maintained that with sustained funding and stronger partnerships with development agencies, the NBS could deliver even greater results.