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  • 6 in 10 Nigerians expect new ministers to perform better than their predecessors

    New Poll; 6 in 10 Nigerians Expect Newly Appointed Minister to Perform Better Than Their Immediate Predecessors Abuja, Nigeria. September 3rd, 2019 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls in the week commencing August 26th, 2019 has revealed that slightly more than 6 in 10 Nigerians (63 percent) are optimistic that the newly appointed federal ministers will perform better than their immediate predecessors. The North-East zone (78 percent) had the highest percentage of Nigerians who were optimistic of a better performance from the newly appointed ministers. Also, age-group category revealed a rather interesting finding as this optimism seem to be higher among the younger population (18 – 35 years) and this optimism decreased with age. Interestingly, Nigerians are hopeful for a better performance of the new ministers because they believe they are capable of doing the work assigned to them (47 percent); some of the ministers have been tested before (22 percent) and they believe President Buhari will monitor them (11 percent) amongst other reasons. Furthermore, 22 percent of Nigerians disclosed that the performance of the newly appointed ministers will be at par with that of their immediate predecessors and residents from the South-South had the larger share of Nigerians in this category. While 30 percent of Nigerians made this assertion because they believe that the ministerial appointment is loop sided, 27 percent were of the opinion that the newly appointed ministers are the same people that were appointed Minters in President’s Buhari’s first term in office. Additionally, findings also showed that 15 percent of Nigerians expect that the performance of the newly appointed ministers will be worse-off than that of the immediate out-gone Ministers mainly because they believe that the ministers are corrupt. Respondents residing in the South-East accounted for the highest fraction of Nigerians who think the newly appointed ministers will be worse off. Although most Nigerians expect the new ministers to out-perform their immediate predecessors, it is also pertinent that civil society organizations as well as other stakeholders that promote and protect good governance ensure that Nigerians get good governance from these new ministers. This could be achieved by demanding a good model of governance that is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law. Poll Background The announcement of ministers on the 19th August 2019 by the President ended weeks of speculations of the appointment of ministers. In the weeks leading to the appointment, there were lists and counter lists of who makes the ministerial list from all quarters. Also, there have been horse trading, politicking and political bargain before the eventual emergence of the ministerial list within the political juggernauts in the country. There have also been weeks of speculation about the portfolios the ministers will be assigned to and Nigerians have been wondering whether the right set of people will get the right positions as it is critical for round pegs to be in round holes. The question in the minds of Nigerians now is how effective these ministers will perform compared to the immediate past ministers. Will they perform better or worse off or will they be the same in terms of performance to the last set of ministers? It remains to be seen and it is only time that will eventually tell, as the saying goes. However, their performance is hinged to the overall socio-economic performance of the government towards ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are going through and vice-versa. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls conducted a survey to gauge the opinions of Nigerians regarding their expectations of the new ministers. Poll Findings The survey gauged the expectation of Nigerians regarding the performance of the newly appointed federal ministers in relation to those of their immediate predecessors. Hence, the analysis of results revealed that 63 percent of Nigerians expect a better performance from the newly appointed minister and those residing in the North-East had the larger percentage of Nigerians who gave this assertion. Additionally, analysis of results across the age-groups revealed that optimism regarding the performance of the new ministers seem to wane as age increases with the younger population having the highest optimism in performance. Furthermore, while 22 percent of Nigerians expect the performance of the new ministers to be the same with that of their predecessors, 15 percent of Nigerians anticipate that they would be worse-off in their performance. Consequently, respondents who stated that they expect the new ministers to perform better than their immediate predecessors were further asked to give reasons for their assertion. The poll result showed that the top three major reasons expressed by Nigerians are that the newly appointed ministers are capable (47 percent), they have been tested (22 percent) and that the President will monitor their activities (11 percent). Similarly, the top three reasons given by respondents who stated that they expect the performance of the new ministers to be the same with that of their immediate predecessors are as follows; they believe the ministerial selection is loop sided (30 percent), they think the ministers are the same people (27 percent) and they believe same routine will continue (19 percent). Respondents who were pessimistic regarding the expected performance of the new ministers showed that the top three reasons for their pessimism are because they think they are corrupt (47 percent), they believe the Nigerian economy is getting worse (18 percent) and the ministers are all politicians (13 percent). In conclusion, the poll revealed that most Nigerians (63 percent) expect the newly appointed ministers to perform better than their immediate predecessors with the belief that the ministers are capable and that they have been tested. 22 percent expect the current ministers to be the same while 15 percent believe that they would be worse off than their immediate predecessors mainly because they believe that they are corrupt. Given that most Nigerians are optimistic about the performance of the newly appointed ministers, it is pertinent that they fulfill the expectation of the masses by ensuring that they deliver on their respective tasks to rebuild the economy, strengthen state institutions and unify Nigeria and Nigerians beyond the one Nigeria philosophy of the nation’s founding fathers. Finally, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations as well as other stakeholders should synergize and ensure that Nigerians get good governance from these new ministers by demanding a model of good governance that is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law. Survey Method The poll was conducted in the week commencing August 26th, 2019. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com

  • 1 in 2 Nigerians dissatisfied with EFCC fight against corruption

    Abuja, Nigeria. August 28, 2009 – In recent times, the EFCC has been heavily criticized for appearing to lose its drive in the fight against corruption. This sentiment was heightened during the recent visit by the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, to Nigeria, where she described the EFCC as haven “fallen off the wagon”. These criticisms have increased attention on the activities of the commission. In the wake this censure by the public, NOI Polls conducted a poll to assess the opinions of Nigerians on this issue. The results of the poll revealed that, half (51%) the people who were surveyed, believe the EFCC has fallen short in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. When asked what more the EFCC can do to fight corruption, the top three suggestions given by respondents are:  pursue more convictions, be more tranparent and increase collaboration with the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies. “What more can the EFCC do to fight corruption in Nigeria?”PURSUE MORE CONVICTIONS 38% BE MORE TRANSPARENT 20% INCREASE COLLABORATION WITH THE JUDICIARY AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES 15% HAVE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS 7% SEEK MORE FUNDING 6% RESTRUCTURE/ CHANGE MANAGEMENT 5% PROBE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS 5% BECOME AN INDEPENDENT BODY 2% OTHER 2% These results are based on telephone interviews with 620 randomly selected phone–owning Nigerians aged 16 years and older, across the six geographical regions of the country. The poll was conducted between August 20 and 24th, 2009. Based on this sample size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points of what they would have been if the entire population had been surveyed. This poll is part of the ongoing snap poll exercise conducted by NOI Polls to rapidly assess public sentiments following various social, political or economic events. NOI Polls is a Nigeria based opinion research organization which Works in technical partnership with Gallup Polls (USA), to conduct periodic opinion polls on various socioeconomic issues in Nigeria.

  • In Nigeria, majority of police encounters marked by bribery, difficulty getting assistance, survey s

    Abuja, Nigeria 16 October 2020 News release Most Nigerians who encountered the police last year say they had to pay bribes and found it difficult to get help, Afrobarometer survey findings show. Based on citizens’ assessments, Nigeria’s police are widely seen as corrupt, unhelpful, and untrustworthy – a strongly negative perception that forms the background for recent protests against police abuses. While protests initially focused on the controversial Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), the government’s decision to abolish the unit has not ended protesters’ calls for police reform. The Afrobarometer survey, conducted in early 2020, shows that while only one in 10 Nigerians sought police assistance last year, about five times as many encountered the police at checkpoints and traffic stops or during investigations. Whether for assistance or to avoid problems, large majorities – more than in most other African countries that have been surveyed – say they had to pay bribes. A majority of citizens who sought police assistance also say they found it difficult to get the help they needed. Compared to other key leaders and officials, the police are more widely perceived to be corrupt and less trusted by citizens. Large majorities of Nigerians say the government is doing a poor job of fighting corruption and reducing crime – a stark reversal from positive assessments three years ago. Key findings § Only one in 10 Nigerians (11%) say they requested assistance from the police during the previous year, while half (49%) report police encounters at checkpoints, traffic stops, during identity checks, or during investigations (Figure 1). § Among citizens who had contact with the police, large majorities say they paid bribes to get police assistance (77%) or avoid problems with the police (68%) (Figure 2). § Out of 18 countries surveyed in 2019/2020, Nigeria records the highest level of bribery for police assistance and the second-highest level of bribery to avoid problems with the police – twice the 18-country average on both indicators (Figure 3). § Nigeria is also among the countries with the highest proportions of citizens who say they found it “difficult” or “very difficult” to get police assistance (65% of those who sought police assistance during the previous year). § Among key leaders and officials, the police are most widely perceived as corrupt: Six in 10 respondents (61%) say “most” or “all” police officials are corrupt (Figure 4). § Only a quarter (24%) of Nigerian say they trust the police "somewhat" or "a lot," one of the lowest levels of popular trust in officials. § Only about three in 10 citizens say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” in fighting corruption (28%) and reducing crime (33%). Both assessments reflect steep declines since 2017 (59% and 53%) (Figure 5). Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Seven rounds of surveys were completed in up to 38 countries between 1999 and 2018. Round 8 surveys in 2019/2020 are planned in at least 35 countries. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples. The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed 1,599 adult citizens of Nigeria in January-February 2020. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2017. Charts Figure 1: Contact with police | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: In the past 12 months, have you requested assistance from the police? (% who say “yes”) In the past 12 months, how often have you encountered the police in other situations, like at checkpoints, during identity checks or traffic stops, or during an investigation? (% who say “often,” “a few times,” or “once or twice”) Figure 2: Paid bribes to access public services | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents who had contact with key public services during the previous year were asked: And how often, if ever, did you have to pay a bribe, give a gift, or do a favour [for a public official to obtain the needed assistance or avoid problems]? (Note: Figure excludes those who had no contact with these public services.) Figure 3: Encounters with the police | 18 countries | 2019/2020 Respondents who tried to get police assistance or encountered the police in other situations were asked: How easy or difficult was it to obtain the assistance you needed? And how often, if ever, did you have to pay a bribe, give a gift, or do a favour [in order to get the needed assistance or avoid problems]? (% who say “often,” “a few times,” or “once or twice”)(Note: Figure excludes those who had no contact with the police.) Figure 4: Trust in and perceived corruption among officials | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: How many of the following people do you think are involved in corruption, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? How much do you trust each of the following, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? Figure 5: Positive assessment of government performance in fighting corruption and reducing crime | Nigeria | 2008-2020 Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say? (% who say “fairly well” or “very well”) For more information, please contact: Raphael Mbaegbu Telephone: +234 8063292096 Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com Visit us online at: www. www.noi-polls.com www.afrobarometer.org

  • With lived poverty on the rise, Nigerians rate government performance as poor

    Dispatch No. 395 | 8 October 2020 Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 395 | Sunday Joseph Duntoye Summary Sixty years after claiming its sovereign rights from the British, Nigeria is classified as a middleincome mixed economy and emerging market, with expanding manufacturing, financial, service, communications, technology, and entertainment sectors. Touted as Africa’s largest economy, it ranks as the 27th-largest economy in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product and the 24th-largest in terms of purchasing power parity (World Bank, 2020a). Nigeria’s re-emergent manufacturing sector became the largest on the continent in 2013 and produces a large proportion of goods and services for the West African subcontinent (KPMG, 2015). Yet Nigeria’s economy has struggled as the collapse of global oil prices between 2014 and 2016, combined with lower domestic oil production, put the brakes on the country’s economic activity. Hit by the COVID-19 pandemic while still recovering from the 2016 recession, Nigeria’s economy is projected to contract by 3.2% this year, its worst recession in four decades (Business Day, 2020; World Bank, 2020b). Findings from the most recent Afrobarometer survey in Nigeria, conducted in early 2020, show that even before the coronavirus pandemic, a majority of citizens said the country’s economy and their personal living conditions were bad, at times forcing them to go without basic necessities such as medical care and sufficient food. Most disapproved of the government’s handling of economic issues. Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Seven rounds of surveys were completed in up to 38 countries between 1999 and 2018. Round 8 surveys in 2019/2021 are planned in at least 35 countries. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples. The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed 1,599 adult citizens in January-February 2020. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2017. Key findings ▪ As of early 2020, only one-third (33%) of Nigerians said the country’s economic conditions were “fairly good” or “very good.” o Only four in 10 (39%) said their personal living conditions were good. ▪ Even so, two-thirds (65%) of Nigerians were optimistic that things would improve in the next 12 months. ▪ More than eight in 10 respondents (82%) said they or a family member went without a cash income at least once during the year preceding the survey. o Two-thirds (65%) went without enough food and without medical care at least once, while more than half went without enough water (57%) and without cooking fuel (51%). ▪ Close to six in 10 Nigerians (56%) experienced moderate or high levels of lived poverty, an 18-percentage-point increase compared to 2017. ▪ Only a quarter of Nigerians said the government was doing “fairly well” or “very well” in managing the economy (27%) and improving living standards of the poor (25%). o Even fewer rated the government positively for its performance in keeping prices stable (21%), creating jobs (18%), and narrowing income gaps between rich and poor (17%). Economic conditions As of January-February 2020, only one-third (33%) of Nigerians described the country’s economic conditions as “fairly good” or “very good,” a 4-percentage-point decrease since 2017 but an 8-point increase compared to 2012 (25%) (Figure 1). The proportion of citizens who described economic conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad” decreased by a similar margin, from 67% in 2012 to 58%. Citizens experiencing high lived poverty[1] were twice as likely as those with no lived poverty to say the country’s economic conditions were bad (77% vs. 35%) (Figure 2). Negative views about economic conditions were also more common among residents of southern Nigeria (77%), older citizens (69%), the highly educated (66%), and urbanites (65%). Figure 1: Country’s economic conditions | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents were asked: In general, how would you describe the present economic condition of this country? Figure 2: Country’s economic conditions | by socio-demographic group | Nigeria | 2020 33 Respondents were asked: In general, how would you describe the present economic condition of this country? Only four in 10 Nigerians (39%) said their personal living conditions were “fairly good” or “very good,” an 18-percentage-point decline compared to 2017 (57%) after a significant improvement over the five preceding years (Figure 3). Dissatisfaction with their personal living conditions was more than twice as high Do your own analysis of Afrobarometer data – on any question, for any country and survey round. It’s easy and free at www.afrobarometer.org/online-data-analysis. among citizens experiencing high lived poverty (69%) as it was among those with no lived poverty (26%) (Figure 4). It also increased with respondents’ level of education (37% among those with no formal education vs. 52% among those with postsecondary education) and age (43% among those aged 18-35 years vs. 57% among those aged 56 and above). Southern citizens were twice as likely as their counterparts in the North to hold negative views about their living conditions (60% vs. 37%). Figure 3: Personal living conditions | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents were asked: In general, how would you describe your own present living conditions? Figure 4: Personal living conditions | by socio-demographic group | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: In general, how would you describe your own present living conditions? While assessments of the economic situation were gloomy, respondents were more hopeful about future economic prospects. Although only a quarter (25%) said economic conditions had improved during the previous year, two-thirds (65%) expected things to get better over the next 12 months (Figure 5). Figure 5: Retrospective and prospective assessments of national economic conditions | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: Looking back, how do you rate economic conditions in this country compared to 12 months ago? Looking ahead, do you expect economic conditions in this country to be better or worse in 12 months’ time? Deprivation of basic necessities Citizens’ negative views of the country’s economy and their personal living conditions were reflected in their reported experience of having to do without five basic necessities (enough food and clean water, medical care, enough cooking fuel, and a cash income). Lack of a cash income was the form of deprivation most commonly experienced by Nigerians: More than eight in 10 (82%) said they or someone in their family went without a cash income at least once during the previous 12 months, including 32% who did so “often” or “always” (Figure 6). Two-thirds (65%) of respondents experienced a shortage of food and medical care at least once, including 21% who did so often/always, while more than half went without enough water (57%) and without cooking fuel (51%) at least once. Calculated based on the frequency of the lack of basic necessities that respondents reported, Afrobarometer’s Lived Poverty Index shows that close to six in 10 Nigerians (56%) experienced moderate or high lived poverty during the previous year, while about four in 10 (43%) experienced low or no lived poverty (Figure 7). Compared to 2017, the proportion of citizens experiencing moderate or high levels of lived poverty increased by 18 percentage points, while the share of those experiencing low or no lived poverty decreased by the same margin (Figure 8). Figure 6: Went without basic necessities in the past year | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough fuel to cook your food? A cash income? Figure 7: Lived Poverty Index | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough fuel to cook your food? A cash income? Figure 8: Lived Poverty Index | Nigeria | 2017-2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough fuel to cook your food? A cash income? Southern residents were 17 percentage points more likely than northern citizens to experience moderate or high lived poverty (66% vs. 49%). Moderate or high lived poverty was slightly more common among older citizens (60% among those aged 56 and above), in rural areas (59%), and among men (59%) than among young adults (54% among those aged 18-35), urban residents (53%), and women (54%) (Figure 9). Figure 9: Moderate/high lived poverty | by socio-demographic group | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without: Enough food to eat? Enough clean water for home use? Medicines or medical treatment? Enough fuel to cook your food? A cash income? Government performance on economic issues Most Nigerians gave the government low marks on its performance on economic indicators. Only a quarter of respondents said the government was doing “fairly well” or “very well” in managing the economy (27%) and improving living standards of the poor (25%) (Figure 10). About one-fifth rated the government positively on keeping prices stable (21%), creating jobs (18%), and narrowing income gaps between rich and poor (17%). Figure 10: Evaluation of government performance on economic issues | Nigeria | 2020 Managing the Improving living Keeping prices Creating jobs Narrowing gaps economy standards of stable between rich the poor and poor Fairly well/Very well Fairly badly/Very badly Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say? Conclusion Recent Afrobarometer findings show that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerians were deeply concerned about the country’s economy and their personal living conditions. Negative assessments were especially prevalent among residents in southern Nigeria, the highly educated, and the poor. Citizens gave the government low marks on managing the economy, creating jobs, and other indicators of economic performance. COVID-19 and the subsequent collapse of international oil prices are further destabilizing Nigeria’s macroeconomic balances, while pandemic-associated lockdown measures have affected the supply of basic services, with both direct and indirect costs for Nigerian households. School closures are likely to reduce the food intake of some 7 million children who live in poverty and are enrolled in the national school feeding program (World Bank, 2020b). These realities make it more difficult, and at the same time more urgent, for the government to find economic strategies that will revive Nigerians’ hopes for security and prosperity. References Business Day. (2020). World Bank projects Nigerian economy to shrink by 3.2% in 2020. 9 June. KPMG. (2015). Manufacturing sector report, 2015: Manufacturing in Africa. Mattes, R. (2020). Lived poverty on the rise: Decade of living-standard gains ends in Africa. Afrobarometer Policy Paper No. 62. World Bank. (2020a). Nigeria | Data. 25 May. World Bank. (2020b). Nigeria in times of COVID-19: Laying foundations for a strong recovery. Nigeria Development Update. Sunday Joseph Duntoye is head of data analytics/senior survey methodologist at NOIPolls, the Afrobarometer National Partner in Nigeria. Email: sduntoye@noi-polls.com. Afrobarometer, a nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Ghana, is a pan-African, nonpartisan research network. Regional coordination of national partners in about 35 countries is provided by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in South Africa, and the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) provide technical support to the network. Financial support for Afrobarometer Round 8 has been provided by Sweden via the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) via the U.S. Institute of Peace. Donations help Afrobarometer give voice to African citizens. Please consider making a contribution (at www.afrobarometer.org) or contact Bruno van Dyk (bruno.v.dyk@afrobarometer.org) to discuss institutional funding. Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica. /Afrobarometer @Afrobarometer Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 395 | 8 October 2020 [1] Afrobarometer’s Lived Poverty Index (LPI) measures respondents’ levels of material deprivation by asking how often they or their families went without basic necessities (enough food, enough water, medical care, enough cooking fuel, and a cash income) during the preceding year. For more on lived poverty, see Mattes (2020).

  • Nigerian government doing a poor job on water/sanitation and health care, citizens say

    Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 389 | Raphael Mbaegbu and Chukwudebe Nwanze Summary The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened problems that were already bedeviling Nigeria’s health system, including run-down or inadequate medical equipment, underpaid and unmotivated medical staff, and unequal access to health care (Andolu Agency, 2020; Pulse Nigeria, 2020). The World Health Organization has labeled Nigeria a human resources for health (HRH) crisis country (Global Health Workforce Alliance, 2020). The pandemic has also highlighted citizens’ inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities. Nigeria has pledged its commitment to meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which is to “ensure access to water and sanitation for all” by 2030. But the National Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS) on the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 shows that many households in Nigeria do not have sufficient access to soap and water for handwashing and that there is low adherence to hygiene protocols (National Bureau of Statistics, 2020; Premium Times, 2020). The most recent Afrobarometer survey in Nigeria, conducted in early 2020, shows that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, majorities of citizens reported going without needed medical care and clean water at least once during the previous year. Nigerians give the government low marks for its performance in providing water and sanitation services and improving basic health services. Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Seven rounds of surveys were completed in up to 38 countries between 1999 and 2018. Round 8 surveys in 2019/2021 are planned in at least 35 countries. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples. The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed 1,599 adult citizens in January-February 2020. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2017. Key findings ▪ Only three in 10 Nigerians (29%) live in zones served by a piped water system, and even fewer (18%) have sewage systems their homes can access. Two-thirds (65%) live within walking distance of a health clinic. ▪ Fewer than one in 10 citizens (8%) get their water from pipes in their dwelling place or compound. For most (65%), the main source of water is boreholes or tubewells. o Three in 10 respondents (30%) do not have a toilet or latrine in their home or compound. ▪ Close to six in 10 Nigerians (57%) say they went without enough clean water at least once during the previous year, a 17-percentage-point increase compared to 2017. ▪ Two-thirds (65%) of Nigerians say they went without needed medical care at least once during the previous year, a 22-percentage-point increase since 2014. ▪ Among respondents who had contact with a public health facility during the previous year, about four in 10 (38%) report difficulties in obtaining care, and two in 10 (21%) say they had to pay a bribe. ▪ Only about one-third (36%) of Nigerians say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” on improving basic health care, and even fewer (27%) approve of the government’s performance in providing water and sanitation services. Presence of infrastructure During the survey, Afrobarometer’s field interviewers observed and reported the presence of key basic infrastructure in each enumeration area they visited. The fieldworkers found that while eight in 10 respondents (81%) live in areas with boreholes or tubewells, only three in 10 (29%) live in zones served by a piped water system (Figure 1). Even fewer (18%) are in zones with sewage systems, while two-thirds (65%) live within walking distance of a health clinic. Rural residents are significantly less likely than their urban counterparts to have access to water, sanitation, and health infrastructure. The largest disadvantage (28 percentage points) concerns health clinics, but double-digit gaps exist for each of these types of infrastructure. Figure 1: Presence of health, water, and sanitation infrastructure | by urban-rural location | Nigeria | 2020 Survey enumerators were asked to record: Are the following services present in the primary sampling unit/enumeration area: Piped water system that most houses can access? Sewage system that most houses can access? Borehole or tubewell? Are the following facilities present in the primary sampling unit/enumeration area or in easy walking distance: Health clinic (private or public or both)? (% “yes”) Access to water Boreholes and tubewells are the most common sources of water for Nigerians (cited by 65%) (Figure 2). Fewer than one in 10 citizens (8%) get their water from pipes in their dwelling place or compound. A similar proportion (7%) get theirs from public taps, while two in 10 (20%) use other sources, such as water tanks, rivers, springs, and dams. Urban residents are five times as likely as rural residents to have piped water inside the house or compound (15% vs. 3%) and twice as likely to get water from public taps (10% vs. 5%) (Figure 3). The use of water sources other than piped water systems, public taps, and boreholes/tubewells is twice as common in rural areas as in the city (26% vs. 13%). Figure 2: Main source of water for household use | Nigeria | 2020 8 Respondents were asked: What is your main source of water for household use? Figure 3: Main source of water for household use | by urban-rural location | Nigeria | 2020 15 % Respondents were asked: What is your main source of water for household use? But access to a sufficient supply of water is not something that Nigerians can take for granted. A majority (57%) say they went without enough clean water for household use at least once during the year preceding the survey, up from about four in 10 reported in 2014 and 2017 (Figure 4). That includes four in 10 respondents (41%) who experienced water shortages “several times,” “many times,” or “always.” Repeated water shortages were somewhat more common in rural areas (43%) than in the cities (38%). Figure 4: Went without enough clean water at least once | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without enough clean water for home use? (% percentage who said “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”) Access to sanitation services When it comes to access to toilets or latrines, seven in 10 Nigerians (70%) say they have theirs inside the house or compound (Figure 5). But three in 10 (30%) either do not have access to latrines at all or access them outside their compound, a 7-percentage-point increase since 2014 (23%). The poorest citizens (those experiencing high lived poverty[1]) are twice as likely as the economically well-off (those with no lived poverty) to use latrines outside the compound or to lack access to latrines altogether (34% vs. 18%). This situation is three times as common among rural residents (42%) as it is among urban folk (14%) (Figure 6). Figure 5: Location of toilet or latrine for home use | Nigeria | 2014-2020 Respondents were asked: Do you have a toilet, water closet, or latrine available for your use? [If yes:] Is it inside your house, inside your compound, or outside your compound, or is there none available? Figure 6: No toilet or latrine in the compound | by rural-urban location and lived poverty | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: Do you have a toilet, water closet, or latrine available for your use? [If yes:] Is it inside your house, inside your compound, or outside your compound, or is there none available? (% who say “outside the compound” or “no latrine”) Access to health care While access to water and sanitation is a problem for many Nigerians, even more (two-thirds, or 65%) say they went without needed medical care at least once during the previous year, a 22-percentage-point increase since 2014 (Figure 7). For more than four in 10 (44%), this happened “several times,” “many times,” or “always.” However, among those who had contact with a public clinic or hospital during the previous year, a majority (62%) say they found it “easy” or “very easy” to obtain the care they needed. Even so, a significant proportion (38%) report difficulties in accessing health care, a finding that has been fairly consistent since 2012 (Figure 8). And two in 10 (21%) of those who sought health care at a public facility say they had to pay a bribe, a troubling finding that has also been fairly consistent over the past four survey rounds (Figure 9). Figure 7: Went without medical care at least once | Nigeria | 2014-2020 Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without medicines or medical treatment? (% who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”) Figure 8: Ease or difficulty of obtaining medical care | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents who said they had contact with a public clinic or hospital during the previous year were asked: How easy or difficult was it to obtain the medical care you needed? (Note: Figure excludes those who had no contact with a public clinic or hospital.) Figure 9: Paid a bribe to obtain medical care | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents who said they had contact with a public clinic or a hospital during the previous year were asked: And how often, if ever, did you have to pay a bribe, give a gift, or do a favour for a health worker or clinic or hospital staff in order to get the medical care you needed? (% who say “once or twice,” “a few times,” or “often”) (Note: Figure excludes those who had no contact with a public clinic or hospital.) Assessment of government performance Over the years, approval ratings for the government’s performance in handling water and sanitation and health services have generally been low, and in 2020 they fell lower. Only about a quarter of citizens (27%) say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” in providing water and sanitation services, a 13-percentage-point decline after approval had climbed to 40% in 2017 (Figure 10). And only about one-third (36%) say the government is doing a good job of improving basic health services, a significant decline compared to the previous three rounds of surveys (47%51%). Figure 10: Approval of government performance in providing water/sanitation services and improving basic health care | Nigeria | 2012-2020 Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say? (% who say “fairly well” or “very well”) Conclusion Afrobarometer’s Round 8 survey in early 2020 shows that Nigerians expect better delivery of water/sanitation and health-care services by their government. Approval ratings for the government’s performance in these areas, already low, have declined further. And a majority of citizens say they went without needed medical care and clean water at least once during the previous year, a significant increase compared to 2017. To effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for government action and help from all stakeholders, including the private sector, to address gaps in the health sector as well as water and sanitation service delivery. Do your own analysis of Afrobarometer data – on any question, for any country and survey round. It’s easy and free at www.afrobarometer.org/online-data-analysis. References Anadolu Agency. (2020). Nigeria doctors on strike over coronavirus allowance. 1 September. Global Health Workforce Alliance. (2020). Nigeria. Premium Times. (2020). Many households lack enough water, soap for handwashing – NBS. 15 July. Pulse Nigeria. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in Nigeria. 25 August. Mattes, R. (2020). Lived poverty on the rise: Decade of living-standard gains ends in Africa. Afrobarometer Policy Paper No. 62. National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). Nigeria – COVID-19 national longitudinal phone survey 2020, Round 3. Raphael Mbaegbu is the head of social research at NOIPolls, the Afrobarometer National Partner, in Abuja, Nigeria. Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com. Chukwudebe Nwanze is a senior research associate at NOIPolls. Email: dnwanze@noipolls.com. Afrobarometer, a nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Ghana, is a pan-African, nonpartisan research network. Regional coordination of national partners in about 35 countries is provided by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in South Africa, and the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) provide technical support to the network. Financial support for Afrobarometer Round 8 has been provided by Sweden via the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) via the U.S. Institute of Peace. Donations help Afrobarometer give voice to African citizens. Please consider making a contribution (at www.afrobarometer.org) or contact Bruno van Dyk (bruno.v.dyk@afrobarometer.org) to discuss institutional funding. [1] Afrobarometer’s Lived Poverty Index (LPI) measures respondents’ levels of material deprivation by asking how often they or their families went without basic necessities (enough food, enough water, medical care, enough cooking fuel, and a cash income) during the preceding year. For more on lived poverty, see Mattes (2020).

  • Majority of Nigerians say country going in ‘wrong direction’

    Almost two-thirds of Nigerians say the country is “going in the wrong direction,” a recent Afrobarometer survey reveals. Though harsh, this assessment represents an improvement from 2015. The government’s macroeconomic performance is less favourably rated than its performance in fighting corruption. Even so, an overwhelming majority of citizens are optimistic that the country has a brighter economic outlook. Released at a point when Nigeria is recovering from economic recession, these findings reflect the concerns of most Nigerians regarding the country’s socioeconomic development. Key findings § More than six in 10 Nigerians (63%) say the country is “going in the wrong direction,” a 9-percentage-point improvement from 2015 (Figure 1). § Government is more favourably rated for its performance in fighting corruption (59% say it has done “fairly well” or “very well”) than in managing the economy (33%), improving living standards of the poor (25%), creating jobs (25%), ensuring food security (19%), keeping prices stable (18%), and narrowing income gaps (16%) (Figure 2). § A majority (60%) of citizens say the country’s economic condition is “fairly bad” or “very bad.” Almost the same proportion (57%), however, describe their personal living condition as “fairly good” or “very good” (Figure 3). § Almost half (48%) say the country’s economic condition is “worse” or “much worse” compared to a year ago. But an overwhelming majority (82%) are optimistic that things will be “better” or “much better” in 12 months’ time (Figure 4). Afrobarometer Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across more than 35 countries in Africa. Six rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2015, and Round 7 surveys (2016/2018) are currently underway. Afrobarometer conducts face-toface interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples. The Afrobarometer national partners in Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation and Practical Sampling International, interviewed a nationally representative, random, stratified probability sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians between 26 April and 10 May 2017. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Nigeria in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2014. Charts Figure 1: Overall direction of the country | Nigeria | 2017 Respondents were asked: Would you say that the country is going in the wrong direction or going in the right direction? Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say? (% who say “fairly well” or “very well”) Figure 3: Economic and living conditions| Nigeria | 2017 Respondents were asked: In general, how would you describe: - The present economic condition of this country? - Your own present living conditions? Figure 4: Economic condition: Looking back and ahead | Nigeria | 2017 Respondents were asked: -Looking back, how do you rate economic conditions in this country compared to 12 months ago? - Looking ahead, do you expect economic conditions in this country to be better or worse in 12 months’ time? For more information, please contact: Ojewale Oluwole Afrobarometer Dissemination Manager CLEEN Foundation, Nigeria +234 8063026114 Email: oluwole.ojewale@cleen.org Visit us online at: www.cleen.org www.afrobarometer.org

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