Statisticians demand fresh census, warn against unreliable data

The Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to promptly conduct a new census, expressing concern over the unreliability of outdated data. CISON President Goodday Ebuh highlighted that the last population count was taken in 2006, leaving Nigeria without fresh official figures for two decades.

This prolonged gap, he said, poses significant challenges for economic planning, resource allocation and public policy. According to Ebuh, "How do you reform? How do you plan for your people when you don’t have their number? You are estimating." He called on the government to prioritize the census, emphasizing that accurate statistics are crucial for effective development planning.

The institute has also secured the Federal Ministry of Education's commitment to incorporate statistics at the secondary school level during the upcoming curriculum review, aiming to familiarize young Nigerians with the subject early on. The third international conference and 50th anniversary celebration of CISON will take place from October 12 to 16 in Abuja.

The event, themed "From Legacy to Leadership: 50 Years of Promoting Statistical Development in Nigeria," will feature over 70 technical papers presented in both physical and virtual formats, alongside a plenary discussion on the future of statistics in Nigeria.