3.38m Nigerians displaced across 14 states in 2023 — NBS

No fewer than 3,381,228 persons were internally displaced across 14 states in Nigeria in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The figures are contained in the NBS Demographic Bulletin 2023, released on Tuesday in Abuja, which compiles data from administrative sources and surveys to support policy formulation and research.

Borno State accounted for the largest share of internally displaced persons at 50.62 per cent — representing 1,711,481 individuals — reflecting the persistent impact of insurgency in the North-East. Benue followed with 11.67 per cent (394,567 persons) and Katsina with 7.23 per cent (244,380 persons). Gombe, Nasarawa, and Kano recorded the lowest IDP figures.

The bulletin put Nigeria’s projected population at 221,250,127 in 2023, comprising 112,434,239 males and 108,815,888 females. Kano was the most populous state at 15,671,491, followed by Lagos with 13,710,862 and Katsina with 10,661,373. Nasarawa and Bayelsa were the least populous.

On remittances, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed the United Kingdom remained Nigeria’s largest source of inward remittances in 2023 at $12.38bn, slightly below the $12.76bn recorded in 2022.

The bulletin recorded 968 human trafficking cases in 2023. Foreign travel linked to prostitution accounted for the highest number at 173 cases, followed by procurement for sexual exploitation with 120 cases, and buying and selling of persons with 102 cases.

On reproductive health, maternal conditions accounted for over 50 per cent of both capital and recurrent health spending in 2022. The proportion of women receiving antenatal care from skilled providers rose from 50 per cent in 2011 to 67 per cent in 2018 but dipped to 63 per cent in 2021.

On employment, private sector job advertisements on the National Electronic Labour Exchange rose from 90 in 2021 to 150 in 2023, though no federal government jobs were advertised during the period.