The National Bureau of Statistics has appealed to the World Bank for continued support ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 natural data collation exercise, stressing that the success of ongoing efforts depends heavily on the completion of its collaboration with the global financial institution.
Head of the National Accounts, Energy, and Environment Department at NBS, Baba Madu, made this call during the 2025 Natural Capital Accounting Conference held in Abuja.
The event was organized in partnership with the World Bank and the Global Programme in Sustainability.
Madu explained that the NBS is currently working to build a robust and integrated database that incorporates key environmental indicators into national statistics an effort designed to strengthen the country’s approach to natural resource accounting.
“We also compile natural resource accounts, which provide the public with a clear snapshot of the country’s natural assets and their economic value,” he said.
He revealed that Nigeria is currently compiling its first greenhouse gas emissions account and land use statistics, with plans already in motion to initiate forest account compilation.
“We need to improve the quality of our work, which is why we are expanding our focus to cover nature comprehensively,” Madu emphasized.
Also speaking at the conference, Vinay Vuturu, Program Leader for Sustainable Development at the World Bank, warned that Nigeria risks falling behind on the global stage without a structured approach to natural capital accounting.
“The goal is to mainstream and institutionalize natural capital accounting so it becomes a core responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and other MDAs,” Vuturu said.
He highlighted how crucial it is for the project to be able to support itself so that it can continue even after the World Bank is no longer engaged.
The conference in 2025 aims to accomplish two key objectives: creating a national system for natural occurrences and setting up ecosystem accounts in two test states.