Tag: REPORT

‘Nigeria’s gambling market hits ₦5.6tr’ – Report

Aminu Imam
gambling market

The gambling market in Nigeria has jumped to an estimated ₦5.6 trillion, intensifying public concern over the fast-cash obsession spreading among millions of citizens, especially young people.  The sudden growth of digital betting, driven by sports wagering apps, virtual gaming platforms and round-the-clock online casinos has reshaped the country’s entertainment and financial landscape, but also exposed deep social vulnerabilities.  According to the report, industry data revealed that nearly 60 million Nigerians place bets daily, a figure that underscores how accessible smartphones and mobile payment systems have fuelled a nationwide appetite…

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‘Kidnappers made ₦2.56bn from 4,722 abductees in one year’ – Report 

Aminu Imam
Kidnappers report

Over the past year, kidnapping in Nigeria has become a full-blown national crisis, cutting across regions, states, and social classes, according to a published report.  Once sporadic and localized, abductions have evolved into a coordinated criminal economy that thrives on ransom payments and exploits weak state capacity. The scale of the problem is staggering: 4,722 people were abducted in 997 incidents, with 563 civilian deaths, 180 kidnappers killed, and 100 security personnel lost in the process. Far from isolated rural violence, this crisis has morphed into an entrenched national emergency.…

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‘Northern Nigeria faces severe doctors shortage” – Report

Aminu Imam
doctors shortage

Northern Nigeria is grappling with an alarming shortage of medical doctors, with some states recording a single doctor attending to over 43,000 patients, according to the SBM ‘Health Preparedness Index 2025’ report. The report, which assessed the readiness of Nigeria’s 36 states to handle health emergencies and deliver quality medical services, paints a dire picture of healthcare inequality across the country. It revealed that northern states such as Bauchi, Zamfara, and Kebbi are the most affected, with each doctor catering to tens of thousands of patients. Bauchi tops the list,…

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‘Nigeria ranked 4th globally in school attacks’ – UN

Aminu Imam
UN on schools

The United Nations (UN) has ranked Nigeria as the fourth worst-affected country in the world for attacks on schools, following a sharp rise in violence against education in conflict zones. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, global attacks on schools surged by 44 per cent in the past year, with Nigeria recording 2,436 verified grave violations. Only Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of Congo (4,043), and Somalia (2,568) reported higher figures. Haiti followed closely with 2,269 cases. Guterres, in a message marking the International Day…

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Over 14,000 schools shut, 1,364 child-soldiers recruited in W’Africa’ in 2024 – UN

Aminu Imam
Child soldiers recruited

The United Nations (UN) has raised the alarm on the escalating humanitarian crisis of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel, revealing that at least 1,364 children were recruited by armed groups in 2024, while over 14,000 schools have been forced to shut down due to insecurity. This was made known on Wednesday by Leonardo Simão, UN Under Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, at the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the…

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4,722 kidnapped, ₦2.57bn paid by Nigerians in 2 months’ – Report 

Aminu Imam
Kidnap report

No fewer than 4,722 people were kidnapped across Nigeria between July 2024 and June 2025, with ₦2.57 billion paid in ransoms against demands totalling ₦48 billion, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence. The study, titled: ‘Locust Business: The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry A 2025 Update’, documents a crisis that has become entrenched as both a national security threat and an illicit economic sector. During the year under review, 997 incidents of kidnapping were recorded nationwide, leading to 762 deaths. Civilians made up the majority of the fatalities,…

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‘Insecurity kills 40% of Nigeria’s livestock, 30m face starvation in North’ – Report 

Aminu Imam
Insecurity report

Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is said to be responsible for about €4.1billion of economic loss and a corresponding loss of about 40% of deaths in livestock, especially cattle, sheep, and goats, across the country, according to a report. The new report, issuedby Nigerian research firm Agramondis Research and Consulting, estimates that insecurity alone is responsible for between €1.3 billion and €4.1 billion in economic losses annually, alongside the deaths of 10% to 40% of livestock — especially cattle, sheep, and goats.  The sector, worth over €7.8 billion, employs 4.5 million people…

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30 states spent ₦11.75bn on trips in Q1 ’25 only to attract zero FDI – Report 

Aminu Imam
FDI Report

Thirty Nigerian states spent a combined ₦11.75 billion on international trips and training in the first quarter of 2025 with no foreign direct investment (FDI) to show for it. According to the Capital Importation report published by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) on Tuesday, all of the FDI that came into the country between January and March went to only seven locations: the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano and Ekiti. The Foundation for Investigative Journalism, (FIJ), report analysed the first quarter financials of the states…

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Escalating Insecurity: Over 1,000 killed by security forces, 242 police officers slain amid ₦12.6tr spending

Aminu Imam
Report on escalating Insecurity

Nigeria’s multi-layered security crisis has taken on a deeply troubling dimension, with recent data revealing a dual tragedy: 824 civilians have been killed by security forces, while 242 police officers have died in violent attacks by non-state actors between 2023 and mid-2025. This grim reality comes despite the Nigerian government’s allocation of over ₦12.6 trillion to the defence and security sector since 2009. A joint analysis by SBM Intelligence, through the Police Fatality Tracker and Security Force Brutality Report, documents 598 incidents of state-led violence against civilians from October 2020…

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‘1,686 killed in cult clashes’ — Report

Aminu Imam
SBM Intel report

At least 1,686 people died in 909 gang-related incidents across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025, according to a new SBM Intelligence report.  According to the report, Rivers, Lagos, and Edo recorded the highest fatalities, with 215, 197, and 192 deaths respectively, driven by violent clashes among cult groups like Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders. The South-South region alone accounted for over 750 deaths, while the South-West recorded 491, mainly in Lagos and Ogun. In Benue, 204 were killed in cult violence. Some areas like Borno,…

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