Until Nigeria takes research, a compilation of data and statistics for national planning, real development may continue to elude the country.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, made the observation while on his way from Kigali, Rwanda after a three-day climate change programme.
He stated that the bane of Nigeria’s development was lack of research, unavailable database and statistics for national planning.
He said a database of good quality was essential for government and institutions to accurately plan, evaluate and fund development activities.
Onuesoke explained that every modern developmental plan depended on research work, data and statistic, but sadly observed that the case of Nigeria seemed to be different.
Describing development as critical and essential to the sustenance and growth of any nation, the former PDP governorship aspirant pointed out that a country was classified as developed when it is able to provide qualitative life for her citizenry.
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He added that provision of such qualitative life should be backed up with the effective database.
Onuesoke, who recalled that Nigeria, in the last 50 years has been battling with the problems of development in spite of huge human, material and natural resources in her possession because of lack of planning due to the absence of research and accurate database, wondered how could there be development in the country with such deficit.
“Could you imagine government presenting annual budget without research, accurate data and statistics about the tonnage of weight that will pass our roads annually?
“No research institute for specially gifted children and graduates. There are no records on farmers, mechanics, carpenters and other artisanal professions.
“We just allocate transformers without knowing the consuming ratio of the environment.
“How do you install transformers without knowing the consumer ratio of the location?” he queried.
Onuesoke, therefore, suggested that for there to be growth and development in Nigeria, the government should evolve a faithful implementation of developmental plans backed with accurate statistical database devoid of corruption.
and then