FG unveils initiative to drive actualisation of SDGs

The federal government, through the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, launched the ‘Power of Data’ initiative, aimed to strengthen Nigeria’s data system for the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Bureau also launched the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics 2024–2028, aimed to modernise and position the nation’s data system as well as unlock data dividends for sustainable development in Nigeria.

Speaking during the launch in Abuja, Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician general of the federation, said that the initiative aims to mobilise investment and political backing for national data systems by galvanising top-level leadership and fostering unified support from the UN Country Team, World Bank, other development partners, civil society, and the private sector.

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According to him, the activities carried out under the Power of Data roadmap will simultaneously meet the objectives of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics.

He said, “The Power of Data is one of twelve United Nations High Impact Initiatives aimed at speeding up progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Nigeria as a country is aligned with the initiative through the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs in 2024. Since then, collaborative efforts have been made to develop a comprehensive roadmap for operationalising the initiative in Nigeria.

“This roadmap document, launched today, is closely aligned in principle and vision with the third National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS 2024–2025). The document identifies seven strategic pillars through which activities and programs will be designed to achieve the objectives of the Power of Data.

“These strategic pillars include: leadership, governance and coordination; partnerships, data infrastructure and standards; sustainable financing and resource mobilisation; capacity building for data production and use; data production, Access and Use; monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).”

Also speaking, Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, said that the current administration is committed to building a dynamic statistical system capable of providing the necessary evidence to achieve the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Bagudu said that since this government came on board in 2023, the Bureau has been supported to complete fundamental and critical statistical exercises to enhance the quality of the statistics they provide and fill some other existing data gaps.

“The completion of essential exercises such as the rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product and the Consumer Price Index, as well as the National Agricultural Sample Census – an exercise not conducted for over 30 years – are practical examples of this support.

“While much more remains to be done, our commitment to supporting NBS and the wider national statistical system remains unshaken,” he said.

Bagudu, speaking further noted that the government had made some tough policy decisions at the onset of this administration to stabilise the economy and set it on a path of rapid and sustainable growth, adding that those tough decisions are now beginning to yield returns, with headline inflation on the decline.

He said that while the government recognises these economic gains, it is also mindful of the fact that these things take some time to pass through for citizens to feel it in their daily lives. “So, it is not only crucial that we stay the course to ensure we reap the full gains of these reforms, but it is equally essential that every decision we make is guided by statistical evidence.

“This will guarantee the full realisation of the outcomes we expected and planned for when these difficult decisions were taken,” he said.

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