Nigeria recorded 3.38 million internally displaced persons across 14 states in 2023, National Bureau of Statistics reports
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The National Bureau of Statistics NBS reported that 3,381,228 people were internally displaced across 14 Nigerian states in 2023, according to its Demographic Bulletin 2023. Borno State accounted for the largest share of IDPs at 50.62 percent 1,711,481 individuals, followed by Benue with 11.67 percent 394,567 individuals, and Katsina with 7.23 percent 244,380 individuals. Gombe, Nasarawa, and Kano states recorded the lowest shares. Nigeria's projected population in 2023 was 221,250,127. Kano State had the highest population at 15,671,491, while Nasarawa and Bayelsa were the least populous. In reproductive health, maternal conditions represented the largest share of expenditure in 2022. The proportion of women receiving antenatal care from a skilled provider increased from 50 percent in 2011 to 67 percent in 2018, then slightly decreased to 63 percent in 2021. Anambra had the lowest proportion of women with unmet needs for birth spacing at 3.8 percent. The United Kingdom remained the highest source of inward remittances to Nigeria in 2023, contributing 12.38 billion dollars. The bulletin also reported 968 cases of human trafficking in 2023, with foreign travel linked to prostitution accounting for the highest number of cases. Private sector job advertisements increased from 90 in 2021 to 150 in 2023.
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Must ReadThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA of Nigeria and its Egyptian counterpart are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding MoU to enhance cooperation in fighting substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. This agreement aims to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint operations, and training between the two nations. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa retd., announced this during a visit from the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, at the agency's headquarters in Abuja. Marwa emphasized the global nature of the drug problem and the need for international collaboration, citing existing partnerships with various international law enforcement agencies. He noted that drug cartels are seeking alternative routes in Africa due to pressure elsewhere and highlighted NDLEA's success in dismantling drug manufacturing operations, including methamphetamine labs run by Mexican cartels in Nigeria. Ambassador Fouad underscored the importance of stronger bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Nigeria, as prominent African countries, to address narcotics trafficking from a continental perspective. The proposed MoU is expected to bolster intelligence gathering, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement actions to curb the illicit drug trade across Africa.
A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
The Nigerian Federal Government is prepared to collaborate with investors to address the nation's housing deficit, offering land nationwide for mass housing projects. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Darma, during a meeting with a Chinese delegation. The delegation, led by Chief Engineer Lewis Chima, proposed a partnership to deliver large-scale affordable housing. Darma noted that this proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes affordable housing through public-private partnerships. The minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to facilitating access to land and providing institutional support for successful project implementation. Chima stated that the company was drawn to Nigeria due to its significant housing demand and economic potential, aiming to complement the Renewed Hope Housing Programme by providing affordable, durable, and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the country鈥檚 six geopolitical zones. The company plans to use advanced prefabricated construction technology under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing model to deliver 10,000 housing units within 30 months, reducing costs and improving quality. Darma has directed a committee to review the proposal. Nigeria faces an estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units, which the Renewed Hope Housing Programme aims to tackle through various initiatives, including Renewed Hope Cities, Estate