Approval rating rises first time in 2026
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
Approval rating for the performance of the government rose to 54% in July, the first increase this year.
The last time governance approval rating rose was in January—53%, up from 41% the previous November.
The rise is likely buoyed by significant increases in approval rating of the government's performance in specific sectors as high as 38% in agriculture and food security.
Since that January approval rating has been in steady month-on-month decline, dipping to as low as 36% for a two-month stretch from May to June.
Public opinion on the performance of the government over the past month remains sharply divided.
The nationwide Governance Snap Poll, conducted in July 2026 indicates that while a modest plurality of Nigerians approve of the administration’s performance, deep geopolitical and demographic fault lines persist across the country.
Trend of approval rating from June 2023 till date
While 54% of Nigerians approve of the government’s performance, 41% disapprove.
A slim margin of 5 percent reported feeling neutral, stating they neither approved nor disapproved.
The survey highlights significant variation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, revealing stark regional differences in civic satisfaction.
The South South region recorded the highest level of strong approval at 70%. The South East has the highest rate of strong disapproval at 55%.
Demographic breakdowns further demonstrate differing perspectives across age brackets and genders.
Among age groups, young adults aged 18 to 35 reported a combined approval rating of 38 percent, alongside a 57 percent disapproval rate.
Middle-aged respondents (36 to 60 years) showed strong polarization: while 32 percent approved, 64 percent disapproved overall.
Among older Nigerians aged 61 and above, approval rose to 69%, with 27 percent expressing disapproval.
Gender differences were also evident in the poll results. Female respondents reported higher overall approval at 54 percent compared to 51 percent among male respondents.
The findings underscore complex public sentiments regarding recent governance initiatives and policy implementation.
