The Kano State Bureau of Statistics (KSBS) has dismissed figures published by a report on the number of industries, religious centres and vulnerable children in the state, describing the data as inaccurate and unsupported by credible evidence.
The Bureau faulted the report’s claim that Kano has only 58 industries, stating that a recent industrial census validated by the Kano State Investment Promotion Agency (KANINVEST) in partnership with KSBS recorded 3,632 active businesses across micro, small, medium and large-scale categories.
KSBS also disputed the publication’s assertion that the state has 435,389 mosques, noting that its official records indicate there are 2,333 Jumu’at mosques operating across Kano.
The agency further criticised the report for failing to provide verifiable data to support its figures on the number of churches in the state.
Reacting to the claim that about 3.67 million children without parental care were roaming Kano streets, the Bureau described the figure as unrealistic and lacking any basis in official records.
According to KSBS, its approved mapping exercise revealed that there are 6,573 street beggars in the state, out of which only 457, representing approximately seven per cent, are children aged between zero and 10 years.
The Bureau called on the publisher, Garba Adamu, to make public the methodology, sources of information and evidence used in compiling the disputed statistics.
It stressed that Kano’s statistical regulations require individuals, organisations, researchers and development agencies seeking to conduct surveys or collect official data within the state to obtain prior approval from the Bureau.
KSBS therefore demanded documentary proof showing that it authorised the survey used for the publication.
The agency also directed the publisher to withdraw the report completely, publish a correction within 48 hours and provide evidence of any approval allegedly granted by the Bureau.
It warned that failure to meet the demands could lead to legal action over what it described as the distortion of official statistics, publication of false statistical information and unauthorised data collection activities in the state.
The Bureau reaffirmed its commitment to providing accurate, reliable and evidence-based statistics to guide policy decisions, development planning and public discussions in Kano State.