Data Collaboration Agreement Reached Between NEITI and NBS
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have reached an agreement to formally establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of facilitating the exchange, coordination, and utilization of data for national development. This development follows a meeting in Abuja between NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, and the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, as reported by Deputy Director/Head of Communications & Stakeholder Management, Obiageli Onuorah.
The MoU will delineate the guidelines for sharing and managing data, as well as accessing and deploying it to reinforce data integrity. Additionally, it will define areas of collaborative engagement between NEITI and NBS, encompassing training and human resource development, enhancement of information technology (IT) systems, and the creation of frameworks to amplify operational efficiency.
Dr. Orji underscored the significance of the partnership with NBS in ensuring consistency and standardization in the dissemination of data originating from both agencies, particularly at the sub-national levels, for utilization within Nigeria and beyond. The collaboration aims to empower citizens with insights into the number of contracts awarded, the involved companies, and the ownership of these companies.
He emphasized the pivotal nature of NEITI’s synergy with NBS, especially at a time when NEITI’s report data has garnered international recognition for its credibility. In a recently published report by the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Nigeria attained its highest score of 90 points for data integrity, comprehensiveness of report, outcomes and impacts, contribution to economic growth, and adherence to legal frameworks.
In response, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, emphasized the imperative of safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the work conducted by both agencies, acknowledging their obligation to the Nigerian populace. He also conveyed NBS’s readiness to provide support and collaborate with NEITI in advancing transparency and accountability in the country’s extractive sector.
The meeting at the NBS Secretariat, attended by senior management members of NEITI and NBS, underscored the commitment of both organizations to working in unison for the betterment of Nigeria’s economic, social, and environmental advancement.
