5. Suggestions for Improvement

To set up the Planning Unit of FDF at ABUJA properly and strength it to cope with the responsibility of forest sector statistics through surveys.

To provide the necessary enabling infrastructure for forest sector statistics in member countries. This should include transport facilities, computers and other survey equipment. These facilities should be used to equip the statistical correspondent in Abuja to facilitative the function of statistical production. Perhaps assistance and support from international organisation should be sought by FDF to bring this to fruition.

The need to harmonise forest sector statistical requirement by the various international agencies is very essential. Such harmonisation will mean the concentration of efforts and resources to develop the statistics correspondence units in Nigeria.

There is also the need for public enlightenment through lectures, seminars and workshops to improve the attitude of the public and forest industries towards government statistical agents.

There is a need for Federal Government of Nigeria to come up with a clear-cut policy with regards to forest sector statistics. Such a policy should make it mandatory for producers of forestry statistics such as forest industries to furnish information (data) on demand by government statisticians and evolve stiff penalties to defaulters.

There is also the need to harmonise data collection activities among the various institutions connected with forest sector statistics. This is with a view to achieving better co-ordination and division of labour to avoid dissipation of efforts and energy.

At present forest products trade statistics are being collected by customs and exercise and the FOS who in turn compile them. There is need for staff of the forestry department to liase with the above department for proper identification of forest products as well as verification of quantities.