For Today’s Numbers to Ponder, Nigeria could raise at least N2.5 trillion revenue by increasing consumer credit in the housing sector to help cushion the effect of COVID-19 crisis on the economy. Dataphyte analysis also estimated that this would provide shelter for about 20 million Nigerians that need decent homes. In Lagos, the state’s health commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi, says confirmed coronavirus cases in the state may increase to 120,000 between July and August 2020. More funds on the COVID-19 support programme as the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announced that pandemic dedicated accounts had climbed to N697 million as of April 30, 2020..
N2.5tn Consumer Credit
Nigeria could raise at least N2.5 trillion revenue by increasing consumer credit in the housing sector alone. For instance, “if the mortgage industry sells 5 million houses at an initial N5 Million deposit, that will generate N25 trillion. With a 10% VAT, the government would generate N2.5 trillion cool cash revenue”. said Samuel Atiku, who is a senior project officer at the International Budget Partnership.[DATAPHYTE]
€5m Boko Haram Fund
A news report published on Opera News and circulating widely on WhatsApp claims that Abubakar Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram is in disarray after it received a donation of five mIllion euros from an “unidentified” international nongovernmental organisation (NGO). The publication claimed that senior members of the group have also turned against each other over how the fund should be shared within the group.
$1.7b WHO Request
The Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, says the organisation requires $1.7 billion to respond to COVID-19 between now and the end of 2020. Mr Ghebreyesus, in his speech posted on the verified WHO website, made the remark at a news conference in Geneva on Friday.
12-Year Jail Term
In an unexpected turn, the supreme court of Nigeria nullified the 12-year jail term conviction of Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state and chief whip of the senate. Kalu and two others were tried on 36-count of money laundering to the tune of N7.1 billion. Mohammad Idris, the presiding judge, had on December 5, 2019 sentenced Kalu to 12 years in prison.
N697m COVID-19 Donations
Donations into the COVID-19 Eradication Support Accounts by 111 individuals and organisations between April 1 and 30 had climbed to N697,538,108. The figures, which were made available by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, were the aggregate from the five dedicated accounts activated by the Federal Government in five commercial banks.
120,000 COVID-19 Cases
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Lagos State may increase to 120,000 between July and August, the state’s health commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said. While speaking at a press conference on Friday, Abayomi said the virus was expected to reach its peak in Lagos at that time.
N19.63b Alleged Fraud
Imo people and keen political watchers are gradually settling down and coming to terms with the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s judicial pronouncement ousting Chief Emeka Ihedioha from power on January 14, and subsequent reaffirmation of the judgment in which it declared Senator Hope Uzodinma duly elected. But another can of worm capable of further souring relationship between the two men recently came up, with the Uzodinma administration accusing his predecessor of siphoning N19.63 billion from the accounts of the 27 local government areas of the state.