The National Bureau of Statistics had announced that it will begin a national economic census across the country from October 12.

It was stated on Monday that it had been more than 20 years that the exercise was conducted in Nigeria.

Statistician-General, NBS, Yemi Kale, who made the announcement at the Training of Trainers for the National Business Sample Census in Abuja, said the census would last for two months and explained that the business census, also known as an economic census, was a statistical exercise that involved the enumeration of formal and informal business establishments across the country.

He added that during the process, commercial and industrial business operations in fixed locations would be listed with valuable information.

Kale noted that information collected during the exercise include the nature of the economic activity of the establishments, the number of employees they engage, their contact details, among other things.

His words: “The information emanating from this census activity is primarily useful in understanding the nature and structure of the economy, as well as providing a sound business frame for the conduct of economic surveys in the country.

“Conventionally, it is conducted every five years as recommended by the United Nations Statistical Commission. However, in Nigeria, the census has not been conducted for over two decades, mainly due to funding challenges.”

He also said that based on the critical importance of the exercise to the entire economy, the NBS had sought for different ways to make the census a reality since his appointment at the bureau.

“Our pursuit for this finally paid off, thanks to the World Banks’s Fiscal Governance and Institutions Project, which graciously accommodated the business census, as well as the agricultural census, which we plan to conduct early next year,” Kale said.