The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) said it has reviewed its survey instruments to capture gender-based issues in the country with the introduction of a new module which collects data on violence against women and other related issues.

The Statistician- General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the commemoration of the African Statistics Day.

The theme of this year's celebration is: "Making Every Woman and Man Count: Engendering Statistics for Better Development Outcomes."

The day is celebrated in the continent to highlight the important role that statistics play in social economic development of the continent.

By capturing gender-based issues in its data production, Kale said policy makers would have adequate information and a wide array of data to formulate appropriate programmes that would better the lives of both men and women in Nigeria.

He said: "The NBS has already started the process of incorporating gender into our data production activities. Our survey instruments have been revised to capture gender-based issues. As a matter of fact, this year, a new module, Gender-Based Violence, which collects data on violence against women and men, was introduced into our Expanded Socio-Economic Survey (ESES) which is scheduled for 2013.

"Furthermore, we are in the process of expanding our gender desk into the division, so as to ensure that we have the necessary manpower and skills required to produce accurate and relevant gender statistics."

The NBS boss said there was need to institutionalise the use of statistics in both public and private dealings adding that this was a viable way to achieve the millennium development goals.

While admitting that there was still much to be done, Kale expressed joy that the quality of data and information provided