The United Nations says Nigeria lost an estimated 2 . 8 billion dollars
in revenues in 2018 , mainly due to oil -related crimes .
This is
according to a new ‘ Report by the Secretary – General on the
activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel ’
on Monday in New York.
The report , which covered from July 1 ,
2018 to December 31 , 2018, said “ Maritime crime and piracy off the
coast of West Africa continued to pose a threat to peace , security and
development in the region .
“ Oil – related crimes resulted in
the loss of nearly 2 . 8 billion dollars in revenues last year in
Nigeria, according to government figures .
“ Between January 1 and November 23 , there were 82 reported incidents of maritime crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea . ’’
The
report also noted that compared to the situation reflected in the
previous report , there was an increase in drug trafficking throughout
West Africa and the Sahel .
“ In Benin , the Gambia and Nigeria,
more than 50 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized between July and October
by joint airport interdiction task forces .
“ During the same
period, joint airport interdiction task forces seized more than six
kilogrammes of methamphetamines, eight kilogramme of heroin ( double the
amount in the first half of 2018 ) and 2 .6 tonnes of cannabis .
“
Drug production across the region was also reportedly on the rise ,
with more than 100 kilogrammes of ephedrine and phenacetin seized by
competent authorities , ’’ the report said .
During the reporting
period , it said that conflicts between farmers and herders resulted in
loss of lives , destruction of livelihoods and property , population
displacements and human rights violations and abuses .
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