Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has warned that Nigeria cannot achieve its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy without a credible and modern statistical framework.
Speaking at a public hearing on the proposed Statistics Bill, 2025, Abbas said the legislation would repeal the outdated Statistics Act of 2007 and introduce a new legal structure to strengthen the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), improve data governance, and ensure sustainable funding.
Represented by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Abbas stressed that accurate data is essential for national planning.
“To plan without accurate data is to build a house on quicksand,” he said, adding that every policy decision and investment must be guided by reliable statistics.
The bill seeks to modernize Nigeria’s statistical system by promoting digital data collection, enhancing coordination among agencies, and aligning with global standards.
Abbas described it as a “complete structural overhaul” to meet the demands of the digital age, where technologies like artificial intelligence and big data analytics are central to governance.
Statistician-General Adeyemi Adeniran backed the reform, noting that while the 2007 Act served Nigeria for nearly two decades, emerging technologies now require a stronger legal framework.
He said the bill’s 42 clauses would address issues of data quality, confidentiality, accountability, and institutional coordination, positioning Nigeria for evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development.
Stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector were urged to contribute to the bill’s refinement, with the NBS affirming its commitment to implementing the reforms once enacted.
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Samatha Byron
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