The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Technical Working Group on Mobile Big Data Analytics in line with the National Council on Communications Technology 2017 approval for the development and use of mobile position data for statistics and decision making by the public and private sector.

The inauguration was performed by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications, Mr. Musa Istifanus on behalf of the Federal Government at the OSGF Conference Hall, Federal Secretariat Abuja.

He pointed out that National Mobile Big Data Analytical Program will promote innovation and modernisation of national statistical systems, promote the use of data and analytics by government agencies and increase opportunities for a new data science service and jobs for Nigeria youth.

According to him, “The data deluge resulting in human activities, Internet of Things (IoT) can be transformed into actionable data that is capable of improving the quality of lives and conditions of society as a whole.”

Istifanus said there were other data sources such as scanner data, social media data, and satellite imagery that was proven to have a high capacity to enhance the quality of decision making across many sectors to further enhance social and economic indicators as well as accelerate the attainment Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP) and Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The Permanent Secretary stated that Federal Government is working tirelessly through the Ministry of Communications to exploit new opportunities from big data by identifying new data sources available in the Nigeria environment and validating new methods for their use by statistical organisations and other stakeholders.

In his presentation, the Programme Consultant, Mr. Bernard Ewah, stated that the essence of the mobile big data analytics is to build Nigeria’s data economy.

He added that Mobile big data analytics will be achieved by using Keoun Data Processing Technology to produce new statistics for the government and other agencies.

According to him, the National Working Group (TWG) has been Sub-Grouped into four (4) namely Policy and Regulations, Capacity Building, and Sensitisation, Data Applicability and Infrastructure and Commercial Models.

Mr. Ewah said that Abuja will be used for the Pilot Phase. He noted that Nigeria with a very high population, there is a need to generate data to boost efficiency and development.