- NBS to Collect Data for SDGs’ Implementation
The National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday said it would soon embark on the collection of administrative data for the establishment of a formidable benchmark for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Statistician-General for the Federation and Chief Executive, NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, stated this at a workshop for the determination of the baseline SDG indicators.
He said the need for the exercise was borne out of the conviction that as Nigeria prepared to implement the SDGs, there was a need for early preparation in order to effectively monitor the progress towards achieving them.
The NBS boss said a critical component of the early preparation was the development of a robust and comprehensive statistical information system.
He said to achieve this, the NBS was currently collaborating with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on the SDGs and the United Nations Development Programme to carry out the survey.
Kale stated, “Over 60 per cent of the data requirement for monitoring the SDGs comes from system of administrative statistics. This flag-off of the data collection exercise through the system of administrative statistics is yet another landmark aimed at meeting the SDGs’ data requirement.
“With the vigour that the entire exercise is being pursued, Nigeria will have adequate data for monitoring the implementation of the SDGs.”
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDG, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the collaboration with the NBS was vital as it would bring about the required progress in the implementation of the goals.
She said, “To meet the conditions set by the United Nations on the SDGs, it is important to strengthen our data gathering and dissemination system.
“We must strengthen the system of administrative statistics in Nigeria, developing the capacity of the civil servants and other key players so that we can live up to expectation.”