In a move seen as a major boost for evidence-based governance, Nigeria’s top statistics chief, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, paid a courtesy call to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commending his administration for its progressive strides in data integration and infrastructure delivery.
Adeniran, who serves as the Statistician-General of the Federation and heads the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), visited the Lagos House in Ikeja as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s statistical framework in line with the 2007 Statistical Act.
During discussions, he praised Lagos for setting a high bar in governance practices anchored on reliable data. He noted that a resilient sub-national statistics system—especially in a dynamic state like Lagos—is vital to Nigeria’s broader development aspirations.
“Lagos remains a model that other states can emulate,” Adeniran said, stressing the importance of quality data in tracking economic and social indicators for improved policy execution.
Responding, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed full support for the NBS’s mission, describing data as “the engine room of good governance.” He revealed plans to grant full autonomy to the Lagos Bureau of Statistics before the end of the year—an action he believes will ensure more effective and independent operations.
“We understand the role data plays in shaping policies that work. Lagos is committed to building a system where decisions are not based on guesswork, but on facts,” he said.
Also present at the meeting were key government officials including Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem (Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment), Mr. Sam Egube (Deputy Chief of Staff), and Mrs. Olayinka Modupe Ojo (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget).
The visit highlighted Lagos’ reputation as a leader in modern public sector management, with a renewed push toward making data a core pillar of governance across the state.
