Special Reports

Friday, 13 December 2024 04:56

Nigeria's health facilities struggle with drug availability, equipment shortages, NBS survey reveals

A recent national health facility survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted significant challenges in Nigeria's primary healthcare system, with only 34 percent of essential drugs available in primary health facilities (PHFs). The comprehensive 2023 report, released on Wednesday, uncovered multiple critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery. Key findings include: Drug and Medical Equipment Availability: - Only 34.3% of essential drugs were available in primary health facilities - 50.6% of essential drugs were available in secondary health facilities - Just 29.9% of public primary facilities have functional basic medical equipment - Regional disparities exist, with…

Thursday, 28 November 2024 04:57

Antibiotic drugs failures intensify as antimicrobial resistance increases among Nigerians - Report

On a quiet July night in 2020, Moshood Lawal woke up feeling pain in his abdomen. It was sharp, relentless, and spreading from the right side. As a long-time ulcer patient, this was not like the pain he was used to. As the pain intensified, the 64-year-old pharmacist knew something was wrong. Before dawn, Lawal was already admitted to the National Hospital in Abuja, where doctors revealed the source of his pain to be kidney stones. “After the diagnosis, I was given two options; either go for surgery or try an advanced technology to break the stones into particles I…

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 04:57

Food prices soar: Beans cost 254% more, eggs up 140% – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed alarming food price increases in October 2024, with brown beans experiencing the most dramatic surge of 254.23% compared to the previous year. According to the NBS Selected Food Prices Watch report, key food items saw significant price hikes: - Brown beans: Increased from N790.01 to N2,798.50 per kg - Eggs: Rose from N1,112.22 to N2,671.60 for 12 medium-sized agricultural eggs - Sliced bread: Jumped from N760.82 to N1,550.24 - Local rice: Climbed from N819.42 to N1,944.64 per kg - Boneless beef: Escalated from N2,948.03 to N5,858.58 per kg Regional variations were notable,…

Monday, 25 November 2024 04:09

Commercial drivers lament low patronage as workers, students resort to trekking

Some commercial drivers operating within the Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, have decried low patronage by residents, attributing it to the economic challenges in the country. They said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Enugu. According to them, the recent increase in the pump price of petrol by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had worsened the situation. A commercial driver, Okwy Ozor, said the profit he got from the transport business had reduced since the federal government announced the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase in the pump price of…

Sunday, 24 November 2024 04:45

Mai Shayi lament as financial strain drives away tea, bread and eggs customers

Tea selling joints are often regarded as lifesaving places for most bachelors, and to a larger extent, households in times of emergency. The business, also known as fast food in some quarters and one of the most lucrative in disguise, has kept the pockets of its operators full for decades owing to the numerous services rendered. Tea lovers, especially bachelors, always patronise the joints in the morning and evening. And most of them are often located by roadsides in makeshift shops where they can be easily seen. Although they may appear insignificant, some people have made it a habit to…

Friday, 22 November 2024 04:39

Nigeria’s food security crisis deepens, NBS survey reports

Two-thirds of Nigerian households cannot afford nutritious food, according to a new National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey comparing data from 2018/19 to 2023/24. The study reveals a sharp decline in food security, with 62.4% of households worried about having enough food to eat—a significant jump from 36.9% five years ago. Nearly 64% of families reported limiting their diet variety due to financial constraints, while 60.5% reduced their portions. The survey also highlighted infrastructure challenges. While 82.2% of urban households have electricity access, only 40.4% of rural homes are connected to the power grid. Those with electricity face an average…

Monday, 04 November 2024 03:56

Nigeria's hunger crisis deepens with 33m at risk, FG & UN in joint report say

Nigeria faces one of its worst hunger crises with more than 30 million people expected to be food insecure next year, a one third jump from this year due to economic hardship, a joint report by the government and United Nations said on Friday. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is grappling with a cost of living crisis that led to deadly protests in August. Economic hardship has worsened after President Bola Tinubu started austerity reforms, including devaluing the naira and ending a decades-old petrol subsidy, fuelling inflation. The analysis, conducted twice a year in 26 states and the federal capital,…

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 05:22

NewsScroll analysis: Corporate exodus from Nigeria (2020-2024) - trends and pattern

Executive Summary Nigeria has experienced a significant exodus of both multinational and local companies between 2020 and 2024. This analysis examines the pattern of corporate departures and their underlying causes, highlighting the challenges facing Nigeria's business environment. Timeline of Major Exits 2020: Initial Wave Scale: 10+ companies departed Key Exits: - Standard Biscuits Nigeria Ltd - NASCO Fiber Product Ltd - Union Trading Company Nigeria PLC - Deli Foods Nigeria Ltd Context: The year marked the beginning of a concerning trend, coinciding with global Covid-19 disruptions 2021: Acceleration Scale: 20+ companies departed Notable Exits: - Tower Aluminium Nigeria PLC -…

Monday, 28 October 2024 04:50

Nigeria’s healthcare system in crisis: Half of private hospitals close amid economic turmoil

The Nigerian private healthcare sector is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, with approximately 50% of private hospitals shutting down due to unsustainable operating costs. According to Raymond Kuti, President of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD), an average of three out of six private hospitals are closing monthly, highlighting a dangerous deterioration of the country's healthcare infrastructure. Key Impacts: - 500% increase in medical consumables costs - Severe workforce shortages due to medical professionals emigrating - Declining patient visits due to economic hardship - Increasing operational costs, especially electricity - Rising dependence on self-medication among citizens Analysis: 1. Systemic Healthcare Crisis:…

Sunday, 27 October 2024 04:42

Power outages cost Nigeria $48bn annually in losses - Standard Bank

Standard Bank says Nigeria is losing an estimated $26 billion annually due to electricity shortages in the country. In its latest Africa Trade Barometer report, Standard Bank identified electricity supply as a critical barrier to business operations in Nigeria and across other African markets. The report also said businesses in the country spend around $22 billion yearly on off-grid fuel to offset the impact of unreliable electricity, further driving up operational costs. “In Nigeria, surveyed businesses must contend with a national grid that frequently collapses as it fails to meet a daily peak demand which is nearly four times its…

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Thursday, 24 October 2024 04:49

58% of Nigerian households connected to national grid, while 68% use firewood for cooking - NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says only 58 percent of households in Nigeria are connected to the national grid. In its ‘Nigeria Residential Energy Demand Side Survey (NREDSS) 2024,’ on Wednesday, unveiled in Abuja, NBS said nine states; Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto, were selected across the six geo-political zones of the country for the survey. According to the bureau, households from each state were interviewed, making a total of 8,100 households across urban and rural areas. NBS said 86.6 percent of households connected to the grid had electricity supply, 85.2 percent of…

Monday, 21 October 2024 04:47

Hardship: High costs of toothpaste push Nigerians back to chewing sticks

No thanks to the excruciating economic conditions Nigerians are facing, Nigerians are going back to the old ways of brushing their teeth. Gone are the days when Nigerians chose from a large array of brands and qualities of toothpaste. Even the least of the toothpastes cost an arm these days, and only the super-rich can afford them. But for an average family, who depends on God’s mercies for a moderate one or two meals, out of the three required in a day, spending N5,000 on toothpaste that may not last two weeks for an average family of seven, is a…

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 05:15

99% of Nigeria’s wealthiest citizens evade taxes - Oxfam

Oxfam Nigeria, a non-profit organization, has revealed that 99% of Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals either evade or avoid paying taxes, exacerbating the country’s economic inequality while millions of Nigerians struggle to survive. The findings were presented in two reports titled “Income and Wealth Inequality in Nigeria: Trends and Drivers” and “Taxing the Rich: Fair Tax Monitor,” released on Tuesday. These reports, produced in collaboration with Tax Justice Network Africa and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), cover a decade of data. Despite being Africa’s fourth-largest economy, Nigeria’s economic growth has disproportionately benefited a small elite, leaving millions in poverty. The…

Monday, 07 October 2024 04:41

NewsScroll analysis: Four quick steps out of Nigeria’s current economic logjam

All through the 5 working days of last week, NewsScroll did a series of analyses on why the Naira won’t likely perform better than it’s now (https://dsh.re/b8043), why petrol prices aren’t likely to reduce (https://dsh.re/6d09cd), why inflation won’t abate significantly (https://dsh.re/37054d), why poverty and hunger will likely worsen (https://dsh.re/353df9) and why insecurity might actually get worse (https://dsh.re/3e620). Today, we present the final in the series, which is about the immediate and medium term solutions to these serious economic challenges. The proposed solutions for tackling these problems are crucial, addressing systemic issues like oil theft, mismanagement of fuel resources, porous borders,…

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