The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, has tasked statisticians to come up with appropriate and improved methods of data production in the country.

He made the call last Friday while delivery an address at the African Statisties Day in Abuja.

Udoma, also called for collaboration between users of statistical information in order to ensure the attainment of desired results.

According to him, the use of data should form an essential element in govenrment’s decision-making process, as timely statistical information was expected to provide the basis for making decision in the government of the country.

The minister noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to steady economic growth and sustainable development.

Furthermore, he said this was part of the reason why the government placed more emphasis on accurate data collection, analysis and projections.

“In order to get Nigeria out of the economic situation we inherited, we need to plan. In order to plan, we need statistics. So, statistics are very important”, he said.

He said it was also difficult to plan without accurate statistics, adding that the support of the National Bureau of statistics was needed for accuracy.

In his reaction, the Statistician General of the Federation and Head of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, said that the less regard placed on statistical projections in the past was largely responsible for the ongoing state of the nation’s economy.

He said several professional warning signs were ignored, thus the economic hardship roacking the country.

Kale also note that data had long indicated that perilous times were coming if nothing was done to address the situation.

He regretted that concerned authorities were unable to handle the situation despite clear warning in 2014 that the economy would soon head for a recession.