Pride Endures, Pressure Mounts: 79% Proud to be Nigerian, yet 57% believe the Country is moving in the Wrong Direction
Abuja, Nigeria. September 30th, 2026 – As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence anniversary, a recent public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that Nigerians remain deeply proud of their national identity and hopeful about the future, even as a majority believe the country is moving in the wrong direction. National pride remains overwhelming, with 77% describing Independence Day as important and 79% declaring they are proud to be Nigerian. With National pride shadowed by deep concern, 57% of Nigerians say the country is moving in the wrong direction, compared to just 28% who see it moving in the right direction, with pessimism most pronounced among men.
This anxiety is also evident in how citizens assess national progress. Opinions are nearly split evenly, with 49% saying Nigeria has made at least some progress since independence, while 50% say it has made very little progress, no progress at all, or has gone backward. The reasons behind these judgments reveal a consistent pattern: optimistic citizens cite good governance (20%), peace and security (16%), improved education (14%), and infrastructure development (13%). On the other hand, those who are pessimistic cite insecurity, kidnapping and terrorism (27%), rising cost of living (23%), and poor governance (22%) as evidence that the nation is failing.
The poll clearly identifies where the pain is most severe. Insecurity is cited as the single biggest challenge facing Nigeria today at 37%, followed by the cost of living and inflation at 25%. Together, these two issues account for 62% of responses. Other concerns, such as poor governance (13%), corruption (6%), unemployment (6%), and poverty (5%), trail far behind. Citizens' demands for the anniversary reflect current realities, with top requests being improved security and public safety (27%), reduction in the cost of living and food prices (18%), and the creation of jobs and economic opportunities (14%).
Despite these frustrations, belief in the unifying power of Independence Day and hope for the future remains resilient. 69% agree that Independence Day promotes unity, with the strongest agreement among young Nigerians aged 18-35 at 78%. This optimism extends into the future, with 79% saying they are hopeful that Nigeria will improve over the next five years, including 58% who are very hopeful. Hope is highest among women (84%) and in the North-West (83%), demonstrating that while Nigerians are dissatisfied with the present, they continue to believe in the possibility of a better Nigeria. This resilience aligns with the World Bank's April 2026 assessment of improving macroeconomic stability. However, the World Bank warned that household incomes had not fully recovered, and that poverty remained high, highlighting the poll’s central message that optimism will be sustained only by visible improvements in safety, livelihoods, and accountable governance. These are some of the key findings from the Independence Day Poll conducted in the week commencing September 30th, 2026.
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