Nigeria has been so associated with poverty that the word has almost lost its true meaning for many Nigerians. It seems that the word has even become a national decorative muse with which the country competes for international poverty relief funds.
A review of the last three Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reports has indicated appreciable increases in awareness about HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. Across age groups and gender classifications, there have been increases in knowledge about the viral disease.
Exhaustion is not the best of words. Even after hours of productive labour, the word “exhaustion” reads towards tiredness, fatigue, relapse, and a collapse. Sadly, those standing in the frontline of Nigeria’s COVID-19 battle have been forced to associate with the word in the last couple of months
Only one in every seven COVID-19 cases in Lagos have recovered from the disease. The recovery rate is slightly different in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where only two in every seven cases have recovered from the viral disease
The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey has revealed that 60 percent of the Northeast population of Nigeria, lack improved sources of drinking water. At the national level, as much as 42 percent of Nigeria’s rural dwellers and 28 percent of residents of urban areas lacked an improved source of drinking water as of 2018.
The 2018 Demography and Health Survey (DHS) report provides a broad picturesque of Nigeria’s gender situation. While the report indicated that appreciable changes on gender parity in the country, it also showed that much is still yet to be done. Specifically, the report revealed considerable gaps in perception of violence against women in Nigeria.
In a paper published in June 2020, Catholic cleric, Hassan Kukah, highlighted supposed victimization of Almajiri children in Nigeria. According to the reverend cleric, the Almajiri children are victims of the northern Muslim elite, and by extension the failure of the Nigerian state. The paper concluded with John Pepper Clark’s sobering civil war poem, “Casualties”. Like victims of the war, the Almajiri child burns in a fire he did not start and is a victim of a matter he has no say in.
Nigeria owes a total of ₦28.63 trillion as public debts. This was revealed in the recently published Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock (Q1 2020) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Of this sum, a total of ₦9.99 trillion are external debts while ₦18.64 trillion are domestic. States and the Federal Capital Territory owe a total of ₦4.11 trillion. A total of ₦14,53 trillion is owed by the Federal Government alone.
The latest UBEC’s school infrastructure data has shown that only 5 out of 10 Classrooms In Nigeria are good. Sadly, these good classrooms accommodate an average of 104 Students Per Class. This is according to the Compendium of Public School’s Basic Education Profile Indicators 2018.
The Central Bank of Naira (CBN) recently devalued the naira by 5.54 percent. While the new rate has not been readjusted on the website of the apex bank, there are indications that exchange has been raised to ₦381/$1 in place of the previous official rate of ₦360/$1. However, the new rate has been updated on the website of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, a platform that oversees foreign-exchange trading.
Nigeria’s foreign reserve increased by 2.94 percent between 31st March and 30th June this year. This was revealed in the latest foreign reserves figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Whereas Nigeria’s gross reserve was valued at $35.16 billion at the end of Q1 2020, it increased to $36.2 billion at the end of Q2 2020. However, there were increases and declines within months and across the quarter. For example, the country’s foreign reserve declined by $373.23 million from $36.57 billion on June 1 to $36.2 billion on June 29.
Nigeria has one of the most competitive markets in Africa. With an estimated population of over 200 million people and a population growth rate of 2.6 percent per annum, Nigeria has the seventh-largest population in the world. The country also sits atop 70 percent of the effective West African market and it is the most competitive destination for the establishment of medium and large manufacturing industries.
Data gaps in Nigeria have continued to impact on the country’s development and growth prospects. Across sectors, poor data collection and management have robbed the country of the benefits of its enormous resources. Literature suggests that data inadequacy in Nigeria have impacted on labour economics, health care, economic planning, disaster management, and human development in general. Lack of data has also denied Nigeria the benefits of a growing population.
The updated implementation guidelines for extension of lockdown has revealed a structured return to the “normal” Nigerian life. Although there are still public restriction measures, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has sagged key measures regarding business resumption. The new guidelines establish new protocols on education, transportation, banking, manufacturing, civil service, and the hospitality industry.
In January 2020, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a new electricity tariff. This new tariff was to be charged by the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) commencing from April. Highlights of the new tariff include service reflective payment for electricity consumption and increases in the charge for electricity supply across the country. According to a Premium Times review, increases ranged between 60 per cent in places like Lagos, to about 73 per cent in Abuja, and about 78 per cent in Enugu.
