Data, Planning and Development Possibilities in Edo State, Nigeria

Data has been defined as facts or statistics collected together for reference or analysis. A more contemporary information technology-skewed definition regards data as the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, which may be stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical or mechanical recording media. 

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Philosophically, data are things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation.

Demography relates to the study of the population, its distribution, growth, and composition. Details such as sex, age, family formation and distribution through locales and habitat types are all important for development planning by any serious government that wants to make positive impact today in people’s lives and leave a development roadmap that will stand the test of time.

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It is this demographic data when analyzed that tells who needs what, how much, where and by when in the society. It is when development projects are underpinned by information derived from credible data, rather than parochial political considerations alone that development becomes altruistic and sustainable.

Lack of Research, Data Base, Bane of Nigeria’s Development – Chief Onuesoke – Nigerian Voice Nov 3, 2019. Chief Onuesoke said that every modern development plan today depends on research work, data and statistics but the case of Nigeria seemed to be different.

A seminal paper written by Abang S. O. and B. A. Badejo both of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye titled Planning Without Facts and Information: The Bane of Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria clearly states that for proper planning to be done there has to be adequate and reliable data to guide the decision-making process.

The writers identified political interference, governance, lack of adequate infrastructure for warehousing data and information, dearth of adequate human capacity and resources trained in data management and decentralization of data gathering and information sources as obstacles that need to be removed.

Sam O. Olofin, Obasanya E. Olubusoye and Afees A. Salisu jointly authored a paper titled The Place of Data and Models in The Planning and Transformation of the Nigerian Economy. In this paper they copiously referenced the concept of evidence-based policy-making.

They assert that it is generally acknowledged that evidence-based policy-making is one of the most effective ways of ensuring policy decisions which are fully consistent with democratic principles and process, as it is often characterized by transparency and accountability.

All the above paint in bold relief, the need for accurate data and statistics in our development planning process. Conversely, that we are where we are, making motion without movement, with regression in our development comparatively with where we were in the 60’s and considering the promise that our resources was capable of delivering, is due to the negation of accurate data in our planning process and, in some cases, deliberate adulteration of the used data to achieve ulterior motives.

But the time to move on has arrived and further lethargy or continuing with the ways that have kept us where we are while the rest of our contemporaries soar ahead will only increase our development inertia. Even reversal.

It is in this light that I whole-heartedly support the move by Edo State Government to put some resources behind development data acquisition for our state. Not many understand, ab initio, the need for this data gathering.

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I was amazed when on one of our WhatsApp platforms, someone highly educated and who I assumed ought to know better, was opposed to this idea of data gathering and vehemently consigned it to the dustbin of waste of time. My effort to point out the usefulness of such an initiative was rebuffed.

While I concede that we are all entitled to our views in a democracy, I also believe that part of our role as citizens is to share knowledge with the objective to enlighten and thereby help achieve better societal outcomes. Being in perpetual opposition to everything, positive or negative, is also anti-democratic.

This data collection effort, apart from the promise of giving the government in power and those that would follow them, superior accurate information to undergird their decision making in addition to the political considerations, would provide opportunities to reveal hidden statistics that have never been considered on projects location, educational planning, security arrangements and infrastructure distribution.

It is possible to identify huge swathes of under-served populations as well as identify overconcentration of facilities in some areas. Remediation actions become fact-based and influence of ‘project locational godfatherism’ can as well be technically eliminated. These are what I think can be achieved, with the necessary political will.

Does anyone also fail to see that employment opportunities for the data enumerators and data analysts and warehousing experts that this is creating – even if some roles would be temporary? Can we discountenance the skills being acquired by those involved in the process? Before you do that, please talk to those citizens taking part and ask them their views.

Without data, how would the Governor have known that close to 50% of our teachers are staying put in Benin City while the rural schools lack teachers. Is it fair for a school in the city to have 5 principal grade and classroom teachers but a school in Okpella or Ihievbe has one principal and three teachers?

How many teachers are in Emu Grammar School today and what is student/teacher ratio compared to Western Boys High School? Only accurate data will show this and enable the Commissioner of Education to redistribute teachers equitably across the state. Is this so difficult to see? I hope not.

It seems to me that the old process of locating projects based on whims and political considerations alone would soon be taking a back seat. Which roads, when tared, would give the greatest benefit to commuters and lift folks out of poverty because it would aid food crops evacuation to markets?

Of these roads which would help the greatest number and how much products are actually moving through that axis? Are new farms planned for that zone and is a new project coming there that would depend on availability of a motor-able road for the facilitation of its construction and eventual operation?

Such decisions are better made with accurate and appropriate data. So would the decision to build a river port at Agenebode or Illushi be assisted by unbiased data in a situation of limited resources.

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I will conclude by saying that the on-going data collection by Edo State Government is borne out of a well-thought-out development strategy and should be supported by all citizens and residents of Edo State. The benefits of the outcomes would be positively far-reaching and will continue to be reaped long after Governor Obaseki and his team are out of Osadebe Avenue.

The UNIDO Country Representative virtually alluded to this yesterday. I will not be surprised if some State Governments and even foreign entities send their staff to come to Edo and understudy this process soon. Mark my words.

Benin City, 4th March 2021 – Austin Isikhuemen 

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