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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the weekend, disclosed that his knowledge of statistical data analysis helped him to create three passport centres (Ikoyi, Festac, Alausa, and Amuwo Odofin centres) for decongestion and reduction of racketeers in Nigeria. He said it is only those who did not want to follow the laws and principles of acquiring passport that landed in the hands of bad people who extorted money from them.
Aregbesola made this known when Professional Statistical Society of Nigeria visited him, at the weekend, in Abuja.
The Minister further explained that he pioneered the establishment of the state bureau of statistics, when he was the governor of Osun State, by appointing the first state Statistician General.
“I find statistics useful and result- oriented to politicians and leaders, communities, local governments, states and nations” he added. Aregbesola expressed his willingness to liaise with the Professional Statistical Society of Nigeria despite his short term in the office. He said the National Assembly had passed law for the organisation to be Chartered Institute of Statisticians in Nigeria, so that they can have elements of law that govern them.
Earlier, the team of Professional Statistical Society of Nigeria led by Professor Waheed Yahya, said their organisation is a body of professional statisticians with the responsibility of engaging statistical research that will assist policymakers in government and non-governmental organisations and industries at promoting the nation. He further said that their responsibility is to mentor the younger ones in the field of statistical research in the country.
Yahya disclosed that the purpose of the visit to the Minister is to congratulate him on the series of transformations he brought to the Ministry of Interior, and also to liaise with the minister in the area of statistic, because the minister is a lover of statistics. He used the idea of statistical data for the decongestion of passport administration by creating more centres in Nigeria.
The leader of the association said that Aregbesola established the state bureau of statistics and appointed the first Statistician General in Osun State.
