Key takeaways:

• Mozambique has the fewest individuals requiring support from the United Nations.
• The UN plans to help 3.6 million of the 7.8 million people in Nigeria who require assistance.
• Sudan is the only Northern African country recorded by the UN as having people in need.
• In East and Southern Africa, the countries with the highest and lowest numbers of individuals in need are Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, respectively.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger have the highest and lowest number of individuals needing assistance, respectively, in West and Central Africa.

• In February 2016, petrol was at its lowest price of ₦99.80 per litre, marking the last time fuel prices remained below ₦100.
• By November 2024, petrol prices soared to an all-time high of ₦1,214.17 per litre, reflecting the compounded effects of inflation, currency depreciation, and global oil price volatility.
• Over the nine-year period, the average petrol price stood at ₦272.65 per litre.
• Between January 2016 and December 2024, petrol prices increased by ₦1,079.52, a staggering 984.96% rise, emphasising the long-term upward trajectory influenced by economic challenges, subsidy removals, and fluctuating exchange rates.
• The most volatile period recorded a month-to-month price surge of over 129.23%.

• 66.6% of inmates (53,408) are awaiting trial, meaning 2 out of every 3 prisoners have not been convicted. This highlights major delays in the justice system, leading to prolonged detention without sentencing.
• Male inmates dominate the prison population at 97.7%, with similar trends in both convicted (98.3%) and awaiting trial (97.4%) categories, highlighting a significant gender disparity in detention rates.
• Only 33.4% of inmates (26,775) have been convicted, while the majority remain in legal limbo. This suggests that slow judicial processes are contributing to prison overcrowding and potential human rights concerns.
• 75.4% of female inmates (1,399 out of 1,855) are awaiting trial, meaning only 1 in 4 female prisoners has been convicted

• The NGX premium board accommodates an elite list of companies that meet specific requirements
• Six of the eight companies are audited by EY and KMPG, with each firm auditing three companies
• PwC audits the remaining two companies on the premium board
• Deloitte is the only big four firm that does not audit a premium board company

• Listed banking groups in Nigeria are all audited by the big four
• KPMG is the top auditor for the industry, auditing five companies
• Deloitte audits four companies, close behind KPMG
• EY and PwC audit three of the five tier one banks

• External reserves hit a peak of $53 billion, a level that hasn’t been reached since.
• Reserves have moved between $27 billion and $43 billion in the last decade.
• At $27 billion, 2016 was the most challenging period, coinciding with an economic recession and foreign exchange crises.
• Reserves rebounded after 2016, reaching as high as $42.6 billion in 2019.
• With $39.3 billion in reserves as of September 2024, Nigeria is in a stronger position than in some past years but still below historical highs.

• The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Guinea had the most stable electricity supply from 2000 to 2021.
• Cape Verde experienced the highest electricity fluctuations, with values ranging from 2981.5 kWh/person to 7692.9 kWh/person.
• Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Mali, and Cape Verde had the most unstable electricity supply, with significant year-to-year variations.
• Nigeria’s electricity supply averaged 2161.7 kWh/person but remained highly inconsistent, fluctuating between 1250.4 and 2707.9 kWh/person.
• Mali had the lowest electricity availability among unstable nations, averaging 757.4 kWh/person, with a drop as low as 350.7 kWh/person.
• Countries with stable electricity had lower fluctuations, with The Gambia leading at 957.8 kWh/person and Guinea reaching 1110.8 kWh/person.

• Cabo Verde maintained relatively stable unemployment rates, averaging around 13% from 1991 to 2015.
• Nigeria's unemployment rate climbed to 5.742% in 2020, marking an increase compared to previous years.
• Burkina Faso saw a sharp rise in unemployment, reaching 5.389% in 2022, the highest in its recorded history.
• Niger experienced extreme unemployment fluctuations, with a peak of 3.1% in 2005 and a drastic drop to 0.316% in 2011.
• Ghana experienced its highest unemployment rate of 10.456% in 2000.

• The United States holds the strongest military globally, with a Firepower Index of 0.0744, reflecting its superior military resources and capabilities.
• Russia and China are tied with 0.0788, showcasing their comparable and highly advanced military strengths.
• India ranks fourth with 0.1184, solidifying its position as a major military power in Asia.
• South Korea and the United Kingdom follow closely, with 0.1656 and 0.1785, respectively, highlighting their robust defense systems.
• France, Japan, Turkiye (Turkey), and Italy round out the top 10, with Firepower Indexes ranging from 0.1839 to 0.2164, demonstrating their significant military influence on the global stage.

• The number of collateral-backed debtors fell by almost 50% from 2017 to 2018
• The number of debtors began increasing consistently from 2019 to 2021
• The highest post-2018 debt level was recorded in 2023, reaching 7,390, which is close to pre-2018 figures.
• The decline in 2018 could indicate cautious borrowing or stricter regulations, while the rise afterward suggests a possible easing of credit access.

• VAT revenue in naira has consistently grown over the years, hitting an all-time high of ₦3.64 trillion in 2023.
• The dollar value of VAT revenue declined despite the increase in naira terms, dropping from $5.88 billion in 2022 to $5.44 billion in 2023.
• Over the last decade, VAT revenue in naira has grown at an impressive CAGR of 20.18%, while its dollar value grew at a much lower 5.48%, showing the impact of currency devaluation.
• 2023 saw one of the largest year-on-year increases in VAT revenue in naira, but the corresponding drop in dollar value indicates that exchange rate volatility are eroding real revenue gains.
• Nigeria’s revenue collection efforts are improving, but the decline in dollar value highlights the need for economic stability and currency strength.
• This trend reflects a broader issue in Nigeria’s economy - higher local earnings do not necessarily translate into increased global purchasing power.
• With VAT being a major non-oil revenue source, policymakers must focus on stabilizing the exchange rate to maximize the real impact of revenue growth.