In 2020, it recorded a 1.92% dip in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to the previous year, 2019.
But this year, the country has recorded a 0.51%, 5.01%, and 4.03% year on year growth in the year’s first three quarters, respectively. This is when the GDP value in each quarter in 2021 is compared with that in the corresponding quarter in 2020.
Going by certain socioeconomic metrics, the country made progress, while there was a significant downturn in some areas. Here are 21 numbers that describe Nigeria’s performance on both sides in 2021.
8.8 Million Vaccinations
The number of people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine was 8.8 million as of 19th December 2021. However, only 4.1 million of this number have received the second dose of the vaccine. These two estimates show that 7.9% of the population targeted for the vaccine have received the first dose, and only 3.7% of the eligible population have received both the first and second dose of the vaccine.
15.99%
Inflation in Nigeria slowed down from 18.17% in March 2021 to 15.99% as of October 2021.
3,490 Kidnapped
At least 3,490 persons were abducted in 2021. This number represents those reported in the first eight months of the year. Within the first six months of 2021 alone, 2,944 persons were kidnapped. This means that over 84% of the total abducted in that period were in the first six months. In October, 235 persons were reported kidnapped and 311 persons in November.
8,281 Killed
Within the first three quarters of 2021, at least 8,281 persons were killed. Of this number, 4,234 were civilians. This means 1 in every 2 persons that died resulting from violence (51%) was a civilian. Also, 21.4% of people who died through violent means were bandits, 10.6% were Boko Haram fighters, and 5.7% were Nigerian soldiers.
N6.598 Trillion
Increasing budget deficits in the years preceding 2021 greatly affected the government’s fiscal behaviour during the year. The Federal Government spent nearly triple (293%) the amount it received as revenue in 2020, resulting in an N6.598 trillion deficit for the 2020 fiscal year.
Recurrent non-debt expenditure summed up to N4.65 trillion (46.4%), and recurrent debt was N3.34 trillion (33.4%). In all, recurrent expenditure gulped N7.99 trillion (79.74%).
Capital expenditures made in 2020 amounted to N1.6 trillion, which is 15.9%, and statutory transfers were N428.03 billion (4.3%).
61.6%
Nigeria’s population has increased by 61.6% between 2006 and 2021. At the last census conducted in 2006, the entire country was estimated to have 140 million people. However, the population of Nigeria is estimated at 227 million people by the year 2021 end. Thus, between 2006 and 2020, about 87 million people were added to the country’s population.
-619%
Capital importation into the country fell by 619% in the first and second quarters of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Total capital imported into the country within the first two quarters of 2021 was $2.78 billion as against $7.15 billion in the first two quarters of 2020.
Of the three components of capital importation. Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) fell the most. FPI dropped from $4.69 billion in the first two-quarters of 2020 to $1.53 billion in 2021. This signifies a 67.5% fall in FPI in 2021. Other investments dropped by 51% (from $2.09 billion to $1.02 billion) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by 36% ($362.8 million to $232.7 million).
40.1%
Nigeria had a poverty headcount rate of 40.1% by the end of 2020. The poverty rate in the urban areas is lower than that in the rural areas. The poverty headcount rate in the urban area was 18.0%, while in the rural area was 52.1%.
Seventeen states had poverty rates above the national average, while the rate in 19 states was lower. Sokoto (87.73), Taraba (87.72), Jigawa (87.02), Ebonyi (79.76), and Adamawa (75.41) were the states with the highest poverty rate in the top five. The five states with the lowest poverty rates are Lagos (4.31), Delta (6.02), Osun (8.52), Ogun (9.32), and Oyo (9.83).
33.28%
Nigeria came into the year 2021 with an unemployment rate of 33.28%. The unemployment rate was 7.54% in the first quarter of 2015. By the end of 2020, the country recorded an unemployment rate of 33.28%.
The underemployment rate also increased from 16.63% in the first quarter of 2015 to 22.84% by the end of the fourth quarter of 2020.
215%
The country’s national debt increased by 215.44% between 31st December 2014 and 30th June 2021. The entire debt obligation of the nation (domestic and foreign) summed up to N11.24 trillion by the end of 2014. This figure rose to N35.47 trillion by the 30th of June 2021, over a triple of the debt figure at the 2014 year-end.
60%
Within the first half of 2021, Nigeria borrowed 60.03% of its total expenditure. The country spent a sum of N5.81 trillion from January to June 2021, but its total revenue generated was N2.32 trillion, creating a deficit of N3.48 trillion. This deficit sourced internally and externally constitutes 60.03% of the total expenditure.
-N8.837 Trillion
Nigeria had a trade deficit of N8.83 trillion from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2021. Total imports in the first three quarters amounted to N21.95 trillion while exports amounted to N13.11 trillion. This created a trade deficit of N8.83 trillion.
However, the total volume of trade increased over the three quarters. In the first quarter, total trade (imports plus exports) was N9.76 trillion. The figure rose to N12.02 trillion in the second quarter and N13.28 trillion in the third quarter, adding up to N35.07 trillion for the 3 quarters in 2021.
73 Rifles
The #ENDSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI) in Lagos state released their findings in November 2021. JPI reported that 73 rifles were signed out by the Maroko Division, which oversees the Lekki Toll Gate, on the 20th of October 2020.
Further details show that usually, an officer is given 15-20 rounds of ammunition for regular daily operations. However, on October 20, 2020, most of the officers received 30 to 40 rounds of ammunition.
33 Recommendations
The Lagos state Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI) made 33 recommendations following their findings. Among these recommendations was that the government should create a memorial in honour of those killed at the Lekki Toll Gate and that the 20th of October should be a national day to recognize the fallen youths.
It also recommended that the government do all its best to bridge the gap of distrust with the youths and that the officers involved in the killings be stripped of their ranks, dismissed, and prosecuted.
N849.12 Billion
This was the sum of money generated by the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) within the first half of the year 2021. This amount is 38.6% more than the N612.88 billion generated within the same period in 2020.
Of the N849.12 billion, PAYE made up 57.48% (N488.11 billion). Revenue from the MDAs summed up to N173.56 billion (20.44%), and that from other sources of taxes is N124.63 billion (16.79%).
84%
Nigeria had a stable score of 84% in the Vertical Accountability Index on electoral space in 2020. By this, the country has a 10% probability of shifting towards more democratic governance and a 6% probability of shifting towards more autocratic governance within a two-year window (2021-2022).
Nigeria is ranked 50 in closing risk (shifting towards an authoritarian government) and 28 in opening risk (shifting towards a democratic government).
11.53 Million
Broadband subscriptions dropped by 11.53 million people between October 2020 and October 2021. The number of subscriptions dropped from 87.66 million people in October 2020 to 76.15 million in October 2021.
Also, internet penetration fell by 6.04% within the same period. As of October 2020, internet penetration was 45.93%. This figure, however, dropped to 39.89% in October 2021.
N460.6 Billion
The sum of N660.6 billion was the amount of money remitted from the diaspora as Value Added Tax (VAT) in the first three quarters of 2021. This figure is 66.23% more than the N277.08 billion remitted within the same period in 2020.
The VAT remitted was highest in the second quarter and lowest in the third quarter. A total of N171.66 billion was remitted in the first quarter. That remitted in the second and third quarters are N207.69 billion and N81.26 billion respectively.
N64.13 Billion
Non-oil Mineral resources contributed N64.13 billion to the country’s GDP within the first three quarters of 2021.
Mineral production in 2020 increased by 17.95% over that of 2019. A total of 64.29 million tons were produced in 2020 compared to the 54.51 million tons produced in 2019.
Seventeen states recorded an increase in the quantity of minerals produced in 2020 over 2019, while 18 states decreased their quantity produced over the same period. However, two states, Rivers and Cross Rivers, had output recorded for just one year. Rivers had a production for 2020 while Cross Rivers for 2019.
149/180
Nigeria ranked 149 out of 180 countries in the 2020 corruption index released early in the year 2021. The country moved down three steps from its 146 position in 2019.
Nigeria has continued to score very poor in the annual score released by Transparency International. Countries are scored from zero (very corrupt) to 100 (clean). Over the last six years, Nigeria has scored between 26 and 28, with the latest score in 2020 being 26.
120
Nigeria is ranked 120 in the World Press Freedom Index in 2021. Although this latest rank indicates a drop from its 2020 rank of 125 globally, without a doubt, there still exists a greater risk for journalists in carrying out their activities in Nigeria and the globe generally.
Precisely, Nigeria is described as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.