The Kano State Bureau of Statistics (KSBS) has disowned a publication containing figures on the state’s population, industries, mosques, churches and the number of underage children allegedly roaming the streets without parents, describing the claims as misleading and unsubstantiated.
The Director General of the Bureau, Dr Suraj Sulaiman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the publication, attributed to one Garba Adamu and circulated by an online media outlet known as “The Sultan of Hausa-Land,” did not contain official statistics generated by the Bureau.
The Bureau said the figures contained in the publication neither emanated from it nor reflected any of its official statistical findings.
“The claim by the publisher that the information was generated by the Kano State Bureau of Statistics is entirely false, misleading, and without any factual basis,” the statement said.
Read Also:NBS, partners visit Kano community to monitor ongoing national survey
Providing what it described as validated records, the bureau said the number of active industries in Kano State, including micro, small, medium and large-scale enterprises, currently stands at 3,632, contrary to the 58 reportedly claimed in the publication.
The Bureau explained that the figure was based on a validated industrial census conducted by KANINVEST in collaboration with KSBS.
It also rejected the claim that Kano State has 435,389 mosques, saying its official records put the number of Jumu’at mosques at 2,333.
“Likewise, the publication provides no credible evidence regarding its claims on the number of churches,” the Bureau added.
Kano State Bureau of Statistics further refuted claims that 3.67 million parentless underage children were wandering the streets of Kano, describing the figure as false, grossly exaggerated and unsupported by official statistics.
According to the Bureau, a validated mapping exercise identified 6,573 street beggars, of whom 457, representing seven per cent, were children aged between zero and 10 years.
The Bureau therefore challenged the publisher to disclose the methodology, data sources, and evidence used to arrive at the disputed figures.
It also reminded individuals, organisations, research institutions, and development partners that prior clearance and official approval from KSBS are required before conducting statistical surveys or data-collection exercises in Kano State.
“Accordingly, the Bureau challenges the publisher to publicly provide evidence of any approval or authorization granted by KSBS to conduct the survey upon which the publication is based,” the statement said.
Read Also:Kano revives Guzu-Guzu water scheme after four years of inactivity
KSBS demanded that Garba Adamu retract the publication in its entirety, issue a public correction within 48 hours and provide documentary evidence of any authorisation allegedly granted by the Bureau for the purported survey.
The Bureau warned that failure to comply could result in legal action over the alleged misrepresentation of official statistics, dissemination of false statistical information and unauthorised statistical activities in the state.
It reiterated its commitment to producing credible, reliable and evidence-based statistics to support informed policymaking, sustainable development and responsible public discourse in Kano State.
