Nigerian statisticians train in spatial data analysis for policy planning

The Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) held a two-day pre-conference workshop in Abuja on spatial data analysis and interactive visualisation, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria on 13 October 2026. It was aimed at statisticians, lecturers and other professionals.

Speakers argued that planning depends on accurate data and suitable methods. Prof. Polycarp Chigbu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said spatial analysis shows where events happen, adding to knowledge of what happened and when. He noted that R and Python can combine geographical information with other datasets.

Participants said local-level spatial statistics could reveal areas facing security and economic difficulties, allowing more targeted interventions rather than reliance on national aggregates. The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Idah said the methods apply to statistics, finance and health analysis.

Why it matters: Spatial statistics skills are spreading beyond GIS specialists to Nigeria's statistical profession. Using open tools such as R and Python for sub-national analysis could improve local planning and widen the pool of practitioners working with location data.