Nigeria Is Developing A National Database With GRID3 Portal

Nigeria, under the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), is currently taking over management of a national geodatabase (featuring data across 12 sectors) from the GRID3 program.
GRID3 (Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development) works with countries to generate, validate and use geospatial data on population, settlements, infrastructure, and boundaries. GRID3 combines the expertise of partners in government, United Nations, academia, and the private sector to design adaptable and relevant geospatial solutions based on each country’s capacity and development needs. Therefore, the Nigerian government engaged GRID3 to develop a similar database, which has now been handed over to NASRDA through a technology transfer that included training of NASRDA operatives on the management and maintenance of the database.
GRID3 country leads for Nigeria, Emilie Schnarr said “this tech transfer is a big win for our partnership with the Nigerian government. We’ve also supported NASRDA with setting up a new physical lab and infrastructure to host the portal and geodatabase by investing in new space, computers, and servers”.
The database development uses aspects of satellite data and technology, necessitating the inclusion of NASRDA as the geodatabase operator. The geodatabase has 1198 datasets across 36 states and the FCT and in 12 sectors. It contains datasets relating to subnational boundaries, key infrastructure (e.g. schools, health facilities, markets, etc.) and settlements layers. The latest GRID3 Nigeria gridded population estimates are also available as GIS data and aggregated at country, state, Local Government Area (LGA), and ward levels. The portal grants public access to most of the data, allowing users to search and download datasets by sectors and states.
Speaking on behalf of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, Deputy Director, Strategic Space Applications Department, said: “The training and transfer are essential for ensuring access and use of a comprehensive and accurate geospatial data system in Nigeria. We are excited about the future of geospatial analytics in Nigeria. The next steps for us will be to train states on geospatial data and how to incorporate their data into this database”.
The dataset currently available on the Nigerian GRID3 portal is shared across eleven sectors as follows:
- Administrative boundaries (112);
- Agriculture (28);
- Commerce (80);
- Education (214);
- Energy (21);
- Public facilities (120);
- Security (34);
- Water and Sanitation (106);
- Agriculture (28);
- Health and safety (214);
- Religion (72);
- Settlements (301).
Since taking over the dataset from GRID3, NASRDA has developed it from 980 to 1198 which it is today.
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