The “National Bureau of Statistics” (“NBS”) says Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom in one year between May 2023 and April 2024.

In its latest crime experience and security perception survey report, “NBS” indicated that an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households during the period.

The report said the north-west recorded the highest incidences of crime with over 14 million cases, while the south-east has the least with over six million incidents.

The “NBS” report also shows that the crime incidence in the rural area (26,526,069) was higher than that of the urban area (25,360,963).

“Nigeria recorded an estimated 51,887,032 household crime incidents. Disaggregation by zone reveals that the North-West (14,402,254) reported the highest incidences of household crime, followed by the North-Central (8,771,40), while the South-East (6,176,031) reported the least crime incidence,” the report revealed.

“The result also shows that the crime incidence in the rural areas (26,526,069) was higher than that of urban areas (25,360,963).”

“Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0 percent paid a ransom. The average amount paid as ransom was N2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2,231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period.”

The report highlighted that 4.14 million households experienced home robbery, but 36.3 percent of the households reported the robberies to the police.

“In Nigeria, 4,142,174 households experienced home robbery. Less than half (36.3 percent) of the households who were victims of home robbery reported their experience to the police,” the “NBS” report added.

“According to this study, the most common reasons for not reporting crimes include lack of confidence in law enforcement and the belief that police intervention would not result in meaningful action.”

“At the individual level, 21.4 percent of Nigerians reported being victims of crime, and the most common crime was phone theft (13.8%).”

“About 90 percent of the victims of phone thefts reported to the police, and only 50 percent of the victims expressed satisfaction with police responses.”

A middle-aged woman, “Monalisa Osayi,” has been arraigned before a court for assaulting an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (“FRSC”), “MA-II Habeeb Ndaman Sayidi” of “RS2.19 Lekki Unit Command” during a routine patrol on 7th December 2024.

Miss Osayi was apprehended on Sunday, 15th December 2024, at approximately 4:05 PM by the Unit Commander of “RS2.19 Lekki Unit Command” after a week-long effort to ensure her accountability. She had earlier been released on bail by the “Ajah Divisional Police Headquarters” but was subsequently detained through strategic coordination by the Unit Commander.

In a viral video, Osayi was seen assaulting the “FRSC” officer. It is unclear what led her to mete out such a reaction.

Woman filmed assaulting “FRSC” officer remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison.

On Monday, 16th December 2024, Osayi was brought before Court 3 of the “Eti-Osa Magistrate Court,” presided over by Magistrate “Oyaniyi FP.” She pleaded not guilty to two charges, assault and breach of public peace by inciting the community against the patrol team during their lawful duty.

The court granted her bail under stringent conditions, including a 100,000 Naira payment and the provision of two family-member sureties with valid tax clearances. Pending her ability to meet these conditions, Ms. Osayi was remanded at “Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.”

The case has been adjourned to 8th January 2025 for further proceedings.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ramped up efforts to finalize practical arrangements for the launch of the single currency, “ECO,” for the region, following the consensus reached on implementing the directives issued at its 65th Ordinary Session.

This was disclosed in a communiqué released after the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government meeting, which took place in Abuja on Sunday.

The ECOWAS bloc, comprising 15 countries, had initially planned to launch the currency in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic led to delays.

The new launch date is set for 2027.

The Authority confirmed that it adopted the criteria proposed by the High-Level Committee for selecting candidate Member States for the launch of “ECO,” or those that would join at a later stage.

It also instructed the Commission, in collaboration with the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA), to ensure that these criteria are incorporated into the protocol establishing the “ECOWAS Monetary Union Agreement.”

The Authority also endorses the proposals of the High-Level.

Committee on the costs, sources and modalities for financing the implementation of the reforms and institutions needed to launch the ECO.

It urged the central banks and member states to take the necessary measures for the payment of their financial contributions for the operationalisation of these institutions as soon as the decision on the effective date for the launch of the ECOWAS single currency is taken.

The Heads of State also urged the High-Level Committee, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, to intensify its efforts to ensure that the deadlines set for the establishment and operationalisation of the institutions needed to launch the ECO are met.

The body said it welcomed the results achieved in the implementation of the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) within the framework of food security and nutrition.

Considering the critical role of agriculture in the socio-economic development of ECOWAS member states, the Authority directed the commission to ensure a swift implementation of the regional strategy for the Development of Livestock Farming and the Security of Pastoral Systems; the Regional Rice Self-sufficiency Initiative and its road map 2025-2035; and domesticate the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Action Plan 2026-2035.

The Authority also welcomed the strengthening of cooperation with technical and financial partners and urged member states to work together with community institutions towards the achievement of these initiatives for food security and nutrition in the region.

• The ECOWAS currency is intended to:

Improve Trade

A single currency could lower trade costs and improve intraregional trade, which is currently hindered by the use of different national currencies that are not convertible within ECOWAS.

Boost Economic Prosperity

A single currency could boost the economic well-being and prosperity of ECOWAS countries.

Some say that the transition to a single currency will involve a short period where both the national currencies and the common currency circulate side by side. Others suggest that the first phase of implementation should involve two distinct ECO zones, where countries peg their national currency to the ECO.

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