The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), once hailed as a model of transparency and reliability, is now under intense scrutiny following the deletion of key datasets from its official website—a move that has triggered nationwide outrage and concern among stakeholders.

According to a Tribune report this morning, the development has raised serious questions about the competence, professionalism, and independence of the Bureau under its current leadership, Prince Adeyemi. Once serving under the respected former Statistician-General, Dr. Yemi Kale, Prince Adeyemi now finds himself at the center of growing criticism over what many see as a decline in the Bureau’s standards and reputation.

For a country like Nigeria, where accurate data forms the backbone of effective planning, policy development, investment decisions, and international perception, the current crisis at the NBS is seen as a major setback.

Civil society groups, economic analysts, and international observers have all condemned the unexplained removal of critical datasets, a move described by many as unprecedented—even among countries with fragile data infrastructures.

“This is the first time we are witnessing this level of incompetence,” said a spokesperson of the ‘Take It Back’ protest movement. “If data is erased or tampered with, we’re all left in the dark. And if the government chooses to remain silent, it only implies complicity.”

The NBS’s perceived shift away from its historically non-partisan and professional stance has ignited debate over the need to protect the institution’s independence. Analysts argue that just as the judiciary must remain impartial, so too must the nation’s statistical agency.

With public trust eroding and pressure mounting, many believe that restoring the NBS’s integrity is now an urgent national priority. Without credible and transparent data, Nigeria’s development ambitions could face serious setbacks.