A majority of Nigerians say the level of corruption in the country has increased and the government is doing a poor job of fighting it, a stark reversal from positive assessments three years ago, a new Afrobarometer study shows. Among a variety of key formal and informal leaders, all are seen as plagued by widespread corruption by a significant proportion of the population. Among Nigerians who had contact with selected public services during the past year, substantial proportions say they had to pay a bribe to obtain the services they needed. The most frequent experience of paying a bribe was among citizens who sought assistance from the police. In addition to negative reviews of the government’s anti-corruption efforts, a large majority of citizens say they do not feel safe reporting corrupt acts to the authorities. Since assuming office in May 2015, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has taken several measures to curb corruption, including the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), prosecution of high-profile corruption cases, suspension of top government officials alleged to be involved in corrupt practices, adoption of a whistleblower protection policy, and enhanced capacity building programs for officers of anti-corruption agencies. But critics express distrust in the government’s anti-corruption campaign, voicing concerns about possible abuse of the whistleblower policy, institutional weaknesses, and perceived discrimination and lack of transparency in the management and distribution of COVID-19 funds and palliatives. Key findings A majority (56%) of Nigerians say the level of corruption in the country increased “somewhat” or “a lot” during the past year (Figure 1). Six in 10 respondents (61%) say “most” or “all” police officials are corrupt, although this reflects continued improvement since 2012 (78%). About four in 10 citizens see widespread corruption among elected officials and judges, while traditional and religious leaders are least commonly seen as corrupt (by 26% and 30%, respectively) (Figure 2). Among Nigerians who had contact with key public services during the previous year, a large majority say they had to bribe the police at least once to get help (76%) or avoid a problem (68%) (Figure 3). Four in 10 (40%) say they paid a bribe to obtain a government document, while a quarter or fewer paid a bribe for school services (25%) or medical care (21%). Fewer than three in 10 citizens (28%) say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” in fighting corruption, half the proportion who approved of the government’s performance in 2017 (59%) (Figure 4). Eight in 10 Nigerians (83%) say ordinary citizens risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they report incidents of corruption to the authorities, up from 77% in 2017 (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: Level of corruption | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: In your opinion, over the past year, has the level of corruption in this country increased, decreased, or stayed the same? Figure 2: Who is corrupt? | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: 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: Figure 3: 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 4 : Government performance in fighting corruption | 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: Fighting corruption in government? Figure 5: Risk of retaliation for reporting corruption | Nigeria | 2017-2020 Respondents were asked: In this country, can ordinary people report incidents of corruption without fear, or do they risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they speak out? 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 Facebook/Afrobarometer Twitter@Afrobarometer

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 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, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows. Only a minority of citizens live in zones with piped water and sewage systems. Among those who had contact with a public clinic or hospital during the previous year, significant proportions report difficulties in accessing health care or having to pay a bribe to obtain the needed care, a troubling finding that has been fairly consistent over the past four survey rounds. The survey also shows that citizens’ approval ratings for the government’s performance in providing water and sanitation services and improving basic health services, already low, have declined further. The findings on inadequate access to water, sanitation, and health care point to priorities for urgent action, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 (Figure 1). 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 (Figure 2). 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 (Figure 3). 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 (Figure 4). 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 performance in providing water and sanitation services (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 2019/2021 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 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: 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”) Figure 2: Main source of water for household use | Nigeria | 2020 Respondents were asked: What is your main source of water for household use? Figure 3: Went without enough clean water or medical care 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? Medicines or medical treatment? (% percentage who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”) Figure 4: Difficulty and bribe-paying in obtaining medical care | Nigeria| 2012-2020 Respondents who said they had contact with a public clinic or a hospital during the previous year were asked: How easy or difficult was it to obtain the medical care you needed? (% who say “difficult” or “very difficult”) 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 public clinics) Figure 5: Approval of government performance in providing water/sanitation services and improving basic health services | 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”) 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 #accesstowater #Sanitation #Bribery #Water #NigerianGovernment #Health #Pipebornewater #Accesstohealthcare #WASH #Corruption

A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that there is discrimination against women in Nigeria as stated by 82 percent of adult Nigerians. Additionally, analysis by geographical locations indicates that the North-East zone had more respondents (89 percent) who made this assertion. Similarly, there are more female (86 percent) than male (78 percent) respondents in this category. This is not particularly surprising given that women have continued to fight for the protection of their rights in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill which seeks gender equality in the country recently suffered another setback at the National Assembly. On March 1st, 2022, despite extensive lobbying, sensitization, consultation, and advocacy, the 9th National Assembly joined previous ones to legislate over and legitimize the discrimination of women. The bill was to allow for the domestication and prohibition of all forms of discrimination against Women, with the aim to create gender parity and end negative gender stereotypes. To mark the 2022 International Day of Women, NOIPolls goes to the street to ask what Nigerians think about gender inequality in support of an existing survey It is remarkably worrisome that this happened on the first day of the International Women’s month, and on the Zero Discrimination Day when the world commemorates and celebrates the right of everyone to live a full and productive life, and live it with dignity, free from discrimination. Subsequently, despite the rejection of this Bill by the 9th National Assembly, the poll further revealed that most adult Nigerians believe that women, if given the opportunity as men, will do well in academics (95 percent), economy (93 percent), science & technology (90 percent), innovation (89 percent) as well as political leadership (84 percent). With regards to challenges faced by women in Nigeria, the three top challenges singled out by adult Nigerians includes gender inequality (36 percent), gender-based violence (35 percent) and limited opportunity which affects women in the country. Contrary to the rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill by the 9th National Assembly, 30 percent of adult Nigerians nationwide advocated for the execution of women’s right, 25 percent suggested that gender discrimination should be banned while 13 percent recommended that the Gender Equality Bill should be sponsored again. Finally, it is imperative that the Ministry of Women affairs and Social Development, policy makers, civil society organizations and all relevant stakeholders synergize to address the issue raised in this survey to ultimately improve gender parity in the country. These are some of the key findings from the Gender Equality Poll conducted in the week commencing February 28th, 2022. Survey Background The international women’s day is celebrated every year on the 8th of March. It is a time of stock taking on the struggle against gender inequality and what has been achieved so far. It is also a time of engaging stakeholders and everyone in the pursuit of a world free of gender inequality and encouraging gender inclusiveness. The day also seeks to celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and also to take action against equality. Creating a world that has gender equality, free of bias, stereotype and discrimination, a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive is the target of this year’s day. This year’s theme is Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow and will also be observed under a sub-theme Break the bias[1]. Premier polling organisation in Africa, NOIPolls, joins the world to help #BreakTheBias against women and engender a more inclusive workplace, family and society. United Nations statistics show that 70 percent of the 1.3 billion people living in conditions of poverty are women. Also in urban areas, 40 percent of the poorest households are headed by women. Additionally, 50-80 percent of women predominate in food production but they own less than 10 percent of the land. Interestingly, 80 percent of the displaced by climate related disasters and changes around the world are women and girls[2]. Whether deliberate or unconscious, the bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field. Until the necessary action is taken and all hands-on deck to fight the bias, gender inequality will continue to be a bane to sustainable progress in the world at large. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls conducted a perception survey on gender inequality to commemorate this day. Survey Finding The first question was to gauge the opinion of Nigerians regarding gender inequality and the poll result revealed that majority of the respondents (82 percent) stated that there is gender inequality in the country. Analysis by geographical locations indicates that the North-East zone had more respondents (89 percent) who made this assertion. Similarly, there are more female (86 percent) than male (78 percent) respondents in this category. Question 1: In your opinion, do you think there is gender inequality in Nigeria Additionally, 82 percent of the respondents who stated that there is gender inequality were further probed and 30 percent mentioned that the reason for gender inequality is due to limited chances of women in political leadership while 14 percent stated that women are not given the opportunity to be heard in the society, amongst other reasons. On the other hand, out of the 18 percent who stated that there is gender equality, 28 percent stated that everybody is treated equally while 21 percent stated that there is no discrimination against both genders and 16 percent stated that there is nothing as gender inequality amongst others. Reasons for gender equality and inequality in Nigeria To find solution to the problem of gender inequality, respondents were asked for recommendation and the poll result revealed that 33 percent stated that they should mobilize community-based awareness programmes, 25 percent stated that they should encourage female participation in leadership positions and 15 percent further mentioned that they should discourage gender-based violence amongst other suggestions. What should be done to overcome gender inequality in NIgeria? Subsequently, the poll revealed that most adult Nigerians believe that women if given the opportunity as men will do well in academics (95 percent), economy (93 percent), science & technology (90 percent), innovation (89 percent) and political leadership (84 percent). How well would women do, if given the same opportunity as men, in these areas? Respondents were further asked to mention some of the challenges women face in the society and the poll result revealed gender inequality (36 percent) is the main challenge women in Nigeria are faced with in the society. This is closely followed by respondents who mentioned gender-based violence (35 percent) while 32 percent believe that limited opportunity affects women in the society. What challenges do women face in our society today? Respondents were asked about the role of men in achieving gender equality and the poll result revealed that 30 percent of the respondents advocated for the execution of women’s right. While 25 percent stated that gender discrimination should be banned, 13 percent recommended that gender equality bill be sponsored amongst other suggestions. What is the role of men in achieving gender equality? Finally, the poll revealed that 40 percent of the respondents are of the view that women should be encouraged to take on science related professions while 28 percent of the respondents suggested that incentives should be given to women as a form of encouraging them to take on science related disciplines. Also, 23 percent advocated for the sponsorship of the girl child as a way of encouraging to take on science related professions. What should be done to encourage women to take on science and technology-related profession? Conclusion Having gauged the perception of Nigerians on gender equality, it is evident as revealed by this study that there is a huge gender disparity in Nigeria. This was further worsened by the rejection of the Gender Equality Bill by 9th National Assembly on the 1st of March 2022. It is particularly worrisome that this happened on the first day of international women’s month, and on the Zero Discrimination Day when the world commemorates and celebrates the right of everyone to live a full and productive life and live it with dignity and free from discrimination. Despite the rejection of this Bill, the poll further revealed that most adult Nigerians believe that women if given the opportunity as men will do well in academics (95 percent), economy (93 percent), science & technology (90 percent), innovation (89 percent) as well as political leadership (84 percent). Therefore, it is imperative that all relevant stakeholders synergize to addresses the issue raised in this survey to ultimately improve gender parity in the country. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing February 28th 2022. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach.

Quarter 4, 2019: The NOIPolls Personal Well-Being Index Stood at 60.6 Abuja, Nigeria. January 21st, 2020-The NOIPolls Personal Well-Being report for Q4, 2019 revealed a marginal decrease of 0.7–point in Q4, 2019 to stand at 60.6-points as against 61.3-points obtained in Q3, 2019. The Personal Well-Being Index (PWBI) is determined by the satisfaction level of Nigerians on various components of their personal lives. Three of the seven factors that comprises the PWBI experienced an increase while the remaining four components experienced decrease in Q4, 2019. Personal security experienced the highest increase of 1.9-points to stand at 59.6-points in Q4, 2019 from the 57.7-points obtained in Q3, 2019. Also, the achievement in life index experienced a 0.9-point increase to stand at 49.3-points in Q4, 2019 from 48.4 points in Q3, 2019. In February 2014, NOIPolls Limited introduced its portfolio of indices; the NOIPolls Personal Well-Being Index (PWBI), the NOIPolls Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) and the NOIPolls Eagle 30 Business Confidence Index (EBCI). The NOIPolls Personal Well-Being Index measures factors impacting the lives of everyday Nigerians; thereby producing a complete view of the individual’s personal well-being. The NOIPolls Consumer Confidence Index provides consumer assessments of the economic situation and their intentions and expectations for the future while The NOIPolls Eagle 30 Business Confidence Index measures business leaders’ perceptions and expectations about the Nigerian business environment using the top 30 companies in the country. Nigerian businesses, financial and government agencies largely depend on the perceptions and micro assessment of consumers’ expectation in making decisions. At best, they draw conclusions on the business environment based on information from their immediate surroundings, while the minorities conduct surveys that are time and money consuming. However, the introduction of these indices provides indicators that will ensure stakeholders can detect and respond to changes in consumer behavior, the economy and the business environment in Nigeria. The NOIPolls Personal Well-Being Index (PWBI) Findings from the Q4, 2019 report revealed a marginal 0.7-points decrease in the PWBI from Q3, 2019 to stand at 60.6-points. Additionally, a breakdown of the seven key indicators that comprise the PWBI showed that Nigerians are mostly satisfied with their Religion (84.4-points), Social interaction (74.2-points), Health (70.9-points) and Security (59.6-points) as they obtained points above average. However, the remaining indices remained below average which may suggest that Nigerians are not satisfied with these indicators; they include Achievement in Life (49.3-points), Standard of living (48.8-points) and Economic situation (38.9-points). The survey shows that Nigerians are not satisfied with their personal economic situation as it is the lowest ranked indicator amongst all the seven indices. There is an urgent need for the government to improve the economy as this index may also directly or indirectly affect other indices. For instance, a better economy means a better living standard, and good living standards means a good health condition, social interaction etc. Hence, the government should implement viable policies (such as family welfare, low income support, child support etc.) that will help boost the well-being of Nigerians. These seven key indicators that comprise the PWBI are highlighted in the chart below. Personal Standard of Living Index – 48.8 The Personal Standard of Living Index increased by 0.9-points to stand at 48.8-points in Q4, 2019 when compared to 47.9-points obtained in Q3, 2019. Personal Health Index – 70.9 The Personal Health index decreased by 1.27-points to stand at 70.9-points in Q4, 2019 when compared to 72.2-points obtained in Q3, 2019. This depicts a slight decrease in the level of satisfaction of Nigerians as regards their health conditions. Personal Achievement Index – 49.3 This index increased by 0.9-points to stand at 49.3-points in Q4, 2019 when compared to 48.4-points found in Q3, 2019. Personal Security Index – 59.6 The Personal Security index increased by 1.9-points to stand at 59.6-points in Q4, 2019 when compared to the 57.7-points gotten in Q3, 2019. Personal Social Interaction – 74.2 This index experienced a decrease by 1.9-points to stand at 74.2-points in Q4, 2019 as against 76-points attained in Q3, 2019. Personal Religion Index – 84.4 The Personal Religion index has always been the highest index which suggest that Nigerians hold religion in high esteem. However, it experienced a decrease of 2.2-points to stand at 84.4-points in Q4, 2019 as against 86.6-points obtained in Q3, 2019. Economic Index – 38.94 The Economic index also witnessed a decrease of 1.5-points to stand at 38.9-points in Q4, 2019 when compared to 40.4-points obtained in Q3, 2019. It must be stated here that economic situation index has always been the lowest index on the PWBI assessment where Nigerians express dissatisfaction the most. TREND ANALYSIS Analysis of the results obtained from Q4, 2019 showed that three of the seven key indicators that constitute the PWBI experienced an increase, this include the standard of living, achievement of life and personal security sub-indicators while the remaining 4 sub-indications namely Health, Social interaction, Religion and economic situation all experienced decline. NOIPolls PWBI experienced a decrease of 0.7-points to stand at 60.6 in Q4, 2019 as against 61.3-points obtained in Q3,2019. In conclusion, the poll revealed that the PWBI decrease by 0.7-points to stand at 60.6 in Q4, 2019 as against 61.3-points in Q3, 2019. This shows that there is a decline in the overall wellbeing of Nigerians and it calls for appropriate action from the government. Addressing the current economic challenges in Nigeria will require the government to address critical sectors like infrastructure, health, education and security etc. Therefore, improvement in these areas will have positive effect throughout the economy including increase in foreign direct investment. This action will yield sustained and real progress thereby raising the well-being of all Nigerians. Survey Methods The Personal Well Being Index Poll was conducted in Quarter 4, 2019. The PWBI 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, 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 and you can 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 or thinking. Press Contact Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877

Results Summary NOI Polls is the leading opinion research organisation in Nigeria. Our surveys target economic, social and political issues that affect the general public, and our mission is to give voice to millions of Nigerians – by providing a platform for the articulation of a variety of public opinions. We are also committed to building a democratic culture in Nigeria, by supporting the activities of decision-makers in the public and private sectors, through the provision of timely and relevant information regarding public opinion on specific policies and sectoral issues. The NOI/Gallup Poll is designed to yield a representative opinion of Nigerians through the following features: • Face-to-face interviews • 2000 people aged 15 and above • 6 geopolitical zones • Interviews conducted in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo, and Pidgin English • Sampling and analysis conducted with robust survey methodologies developed by The Gallup Poll. Questions on Health included: HIV/AIDS-Prevention? HIV/AIDS-Treatment and cure? How knowledgeable are Nigerians about HIV/AIDS? How do Nigerians take care of their health? Second National Poll (February 2007) | File Size: 805 Kb / PDF

Abuja, Nigeria. March 13, 2013 – Latest weekly poll results released by NOI Polls have revealed that majority of Nigerians (90%) agree that Immunization is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children. In addition, 8 in 10 Nigerians (83%) disagree with the controversial view that the Polio vaccine is intended to kill or harm the reproductive health of children. Also, effective communication has been suggested as key to improving the success of immunization programs. These were three key findings from the recently conducted Immunization poll done in the week of March 4th 2013. In the light of media reports on controversies surrounding immunization and vaccination programs; the recent killing of health workers by unknown gunmen, and the suspension of a radio station for broadcasting controversial information regarding the immunization program; NOI Polls sought the views of Nigerians concerning the issue of immunization and vaccination. It is expected that this poll will beam the search light on citizen perception towards immunization programs and serve as background to encourage further discourse around how immunization processes can be improved. Respondents to the poll were asked five specific questions. The first question sought to understand the level of awareness of the Government’s policy on Immunization. Respondents were asked: Are you aware of Federal Government’s policy to provide free Immunization and vaccination to the public? Results indicate that the overwhelming majority (92%) responded affirmatively indicating that they are aware of the policy of the Federal Government to provide free immunization to public. On the contrary, a meager 7% responded negatively, indicating they are not aware of the policy. Respondents were subsequently asked: To what extent do you agree or disagree that Immunization/Vaccination is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children? From the results, 48% of respondents said they “Agree” that Immunization/Vaccination is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children, followed by 43% who “Strongly agree” with the statement. Also, 3% said they “Neither agree nor disagree”; while 3% and 4% said they “Disagree” and “Strongly disagree” respectively. Overall, about 9 in 10 Nigerians (48% + 43%) are of the opinion that immunization and vaccination is beneficial to the health of children. In addition, when the results are analyzed in more detail, some interesting facts emerged. The South-West region has the highest proportion of respondents (55%) that strongly agree with the statement that Immunization is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children. Also, the results reveal that more female respondents (49%) strongly agree versus male respondents (42%). Furthermore, recent happenings in some states have brought to light the controversial belief by some stakeholders that the polio vaccine is against religion and is intended to kill or harm the reproductive health of children. Consequently, respondents were asked: To what extent do you agree or disagree that the polio vaccine is intended to kill or harm the reproductive health of children? The results indicate that the majority (51%) of respondents “Disagree” that the polio vaccine is intended to kill or harm the reproductive health of children; followed by 32% that “Strongly disagree”. Also 4% of the respondents stated that they “Neither agree nor disagree”; while 6% of the respondents (each) “Agree” and “Strongly agree” with this controversial view. Overall, 83% of Nigerians do not agree with the controversial view that polio vaccines have negative effects on the health of children. Once again when looking at results in more detail, respondents resident in the South mostly disagree and strongly disagree that the Polio vaccine is intended to kill or harm the sexual health of children. However, the North East has the highest proportion of respondents that strongly agree (22%) and agree (19%) with this statement. The North West has the highest proportion of respondents that neither agree nor disagree. Therefore results clearly highlight that the misconception about the polio vaccine is a pertinent issue in Northern Nigeria that needs to be addressed. In February 2013, the media reported the killing of nine health workers by unknown gunmen in two separate shooting incidents as they were administering polio vaccines in Kano. Also, three medical doctors working at a government-run hospital in Yobe state were also killed in a separate attack. As a result, respondents were asked:What is your opinion about recent killing of health workers? Overall, the majority (59%) of the respondents were of the opinion that “it is very bad and shameful”; followed by 31% who think “It is sad & uncalled for” and a meagre 2% were neutral about it. It is worth noting that no single respondents interviewed had the opinion that killing is a good or that it serves the health workers right. However, 8% of respondents declined to answer the question. Finally, respondents were asked: What suggestions do you have to improve the Immunization/Vaccination program in Nigeria? The vast majority (44%) of respondents suggested that better communication efforts were needed to educate the public on the benefits of Immunization and Vaccination. This is followed by 15% who were of the opinion that health workers require better training to be able to convey the benefits of their activities to the service users. Also, 13% suggested that religious and political leaders need to be fully involved in promoting immunization programs. Other suggestions include: logistics for vaccines and immunization materials have to be improved (12%); better coordination between the Health ministry and local partners (9%); and the provision of security for health workers (3%). These poll results affirm previous findings from the Gavi Alliance, which suggested a reappraisal of the national polio vaccination strategy. They further emphasised the need for all stakeholders to be involved in the polio eradication effort; with a focus on integrating polio vaccination into the general baby vaccination programme, and strengthening existing health systems. Vaccination services also need to be part of the healthcare intervention package within primary healthcare centres and taken to the children through outreach clinics. In summary, results indicate that the majority of Nigerians are aware of the Government’s policy on Immunization; and about 9 in 10 Nigerians agree that immunization is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children. The results also revealed that the majority of Nigerians do not agree with the controversial view that the polio vaccine has negative effects on the reproductive health of children nor do they support the recent killing of health workers. In conclusion, the key suggestions given to improve the current immunisation program are to have better & effective communication strategies to educate the public on the benefits of immunization and to gain the support of religious and political leaders to champion immunization schemes. Such involvement in programs can help to create mass appeal and provide weight to correct the misconceptions and myths surrounding immunization programs, particularly the polio vaccine. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted between the 4th to 7th March, 2013. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,020 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%. NOI Polls Limited is Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organisation, which works in technical partnership with the Gallup Organisation (USA), to conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOI Polls 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 NOI Polls be acknowledged as author whenever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOI Polls 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 NOI Polls 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 NOI Polls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com

More than 6 in 10 Nigerians Express Concern over Contracting COVID-19 Abuja, Nigeria. March 18th, 2020 – Daily, new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerge around world. What is certain from China to Italy to Iran etc. is that nations and continents are being affected by the rate at which the virus spreads. People are being quarantined in hospitals and aboard ships in distant ports, and the movement of labour and vital supplies has been significantly distorted. Nigerian recorded its first case of COVID-19 on the 25th of February 2020 with the index case being an Italian man who works in Nigeria and flew into the commercial city of Lagos from Milan. Since then Nigeria has recorded an additional 2 cases – a contact of the index case and an independent woman who arrived from the United Kingdom on the 13th of March, 2020. Given this backdrop, NOIPolls conducted a public opinion poll to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding the awareness, mode of transmission, symptoms and to ascertain their awareness on possible preventive measures of COVID-19. This poll was conducted as at the time Nigeria had only 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The poll result revealed that a vast proportion of Nigerians (84 percent) are aware of the COVID-19 virus disease and this cuts across gender, geographical location and age-group with at least 73 percent representation. The awareness level is not surprising given that the health authorities have through various media platforms informed Nigerians of the illness and have assured Nigerians that they can manage the spread of the virus, when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the country in February, 2020. Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issued a public health advisory to inform Nigerians about symptoms and preventive measures, and has provided a toll-free number for guidance. With the incorrect news of immunity being spread it is alarming to note that the poll revealed that 26 percent of Nigerians nationwide held the perception that they are immune to the virus. Further probing showed that Nigerians who held this belief have based it on their faith and religious beliefs (40 percent) and the perception that they have a strong genetic make-up (30 percent) that is resistant to the virus. Additionally, other opinions on immunity to the virus includes, that the Nigerian weather is too hot for the virus to survive in(17 percent), and that their personal herbal remedy will protect them from the virus (8 percent), while others have the idea that the COVID-19 is not an African disease rather a western disease (5 percent). On panic level, with reference to being infected by the virus, 63 percent of Nigerians disclosed that they are concerned that they may contract the virus. With regards to knowledge of the symptoms of infection, cough (45 percent), fever (33 percent) and sneezing (25 percent) were identified as the top three symptoms of the virus while body contact with infected person was mostly mentioned as one of the primary ways of spreading the virus. Furthermore, the poll revealed that 50 percent of Nigerians do not have information on preventive measure against the coronavirus disease. This implies that about hundred million Nigerians are at risk of being infected with the disease. Nevertheless, it is heartwarming to note that 45 percent stated that regularly washing of hands is one of the measures they would take to prevent the spread of the disease. Interestingly, it is very important to note also that a vast majority of Nigerians disclosed that they would be willing to report (97 percent) and be tested (97 percent) if they show any sign of COVID-19 as well as willing to be quarantined (97 percent) if they are at risk of spreading the virus disease. Currently, COVID-19 has been considered a pandemic as a result of its speed and scale of transmission. It is pertinent that the Federal Ministry of Health and all stakeholders, continue and ramp up their efforts in ensuring that the cases of the virus infection can be reduced in Nigeria, and ultimately contain the virus. Also, more needs to be done in terms of nationwide campaign to sensitize more Nigerians on the preventive measures against the virus disease as 50 percent disclosed that they do not have information on preventive measures against the virus. These are key findings from the COVID-19 poll conducted in the week commencing March 9th, 2020. Survey Background Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease which got its name from the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may experience symptoms such as aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin after 5 days. A lot is not known about the Corona virus but several estimates have suggested that incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1 – 14 days; although some people become infected but don’t show any symptoms and don’t feel unwell[1]. About 1 in every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty in breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness[2]. When someone with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, the virus spreads from person to person through small droplets discharged from the nose or mouth. Also, COVID-19 is contracted by touching objects or surfaces infected by the virus, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth[3]. As at 16th March, 2020, global infection numbers were 185,067 confirmed cases with most confirmed cases in China and Italy. Also, 7,330 deaths have been confirmed; however, about 80,236 cases have recovered from the disease[4] A total number of 155 countries have been infected so far with a high probability that more countries will be infected except drastic precautionary measures are enforced to prevent the spread and manage confirmed cases[5]. In Africa, 28 out of 54 countries have confirmed cases of COVID-19. The current infection rate is 417 confirmed cases and 7 deaths since it was confirmed in February 2020[6]. In Nigeria, a total of 48 people has been screened for COVID-19 in 8 States namely; Edo, Enugu, F.C.T, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Yobe out of which 47 tested negative and have been ruled out, while one (a contact of the index) was confirmed positive[7]. Against this background, NOIPolls conducted a public opinion poll to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding the awareness, mode of transmission, symptoms and to ascertain their awareness on possible preventive measures of COVID-19. Survey Findings The first question gauged awareness of Nigerians on the outbreak of COVID-19 virus disease and findings revealed that majority of Nigerians (84 percent) are mindful of the outbreak of the virus disease. However, 16 percent claimed that they are not aware of the outbreak of the disease. It is worth to note that the global coronavirus outbreak has been declared an pandemic by the World Health Organisation given increasing concern about the spread of the disease. Analysis by geographical location indicated that the North-East zone had the most respondents (93 percent) who said that they are of the outbreak of the virus whereas the South-East zone had the most respondents (27 percent) who are not aware of the outbreak. There has a been a spread of false information on being immune to the disease[8]. With regards to perceptions on being immune to the virus, it is astonishing to know that 26 percent of the population claimed that they are immune to the coronavirus disease given that there is no scientific evidence to back this belief. An astonishing 55 percent of respondents from the South-East zone and 31 percent from the South-West believe they are immune to COVID-19 virus disease. Out of the 26 percent who mentioned that they are immune to the virus disease, 4 in 10 (40 percent) of them said that they are immune because they are children of God. Also, while 30 percent disclosed that they have a strong gene that can repel the virus, 17 percent stated that the weather is too hot for the virus to thrive in amongst other reasons mentioned and 5 percent believe it can’t infect Africans. Subsequently, when asked: how concerned are you that you might get the coronavirus disease? The result revealed that 63 percent of Nigerians are concerned that they might be infected by the virus. It is worthy of note that respondents from the South-West (63 percent) and South-East (46 percent) zones accounted for the highest number of respondents who stated that they are not concerned about contracting the virus. Interestingly, more younger respondents within the age group 18-35 (65%) have very high concern compared to older people within the 60+ age group. The top three symtoms of the coronavirus disease cited by Nigerians are cough (47 percent), fever (33 percent) and sneezing (25 percent). Other symtoms mentioned by Nigerians includings bleeding (13 percent), body weakness (13 percent), sore throat (12 percent), headache (12 percent) and difficulty in breathing (8 percent) amongst other symtoms. With respect to mode of transmission, 47 percent of the Nigerians stated that it is by coming in contact with someone who has been infected with the virus. This is followed by respondents who mentioned that the virus is contracted when an infected person coughs (25 percent) or sneezes (17 percent) in public. There is no difference about the percentage of respondents who have information about how to protect themselves from COVID-19 (50%) and those who don’t (50%). The gender disparity is also not much (51% male said know and 49% females know). However, a higher percentage of respondents (66%) from South-East said they don’t have information compared to 54% of respondents from North-Central who said they have information. In terms of age group, the disparity is not much as well. 51% of age group 60+ said they have information on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 compared to 51% for18-35 and 50% for 36-60. All in all, there seem to be not acceptable level of information among the citizens on how to protect themselves against COVID-19. The messages on hand washing seems to be getting into the minds of the people as 45% of respondents said they would practice regular hand washing as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 21% said they would stay away from infected individual, 21% said they would use hand sanitizer while 16% said they would drink enough water. 15% said they would eat garlic and ginger while those who will avoid eating bush meat constitute 15%. In terms of avoiding crowded places, only 8% said they would take that measure while same 8% said they will pray and hope in God. 7% of respondent said they will keep their environment clean as a measure of prevention. Interestingly, it is gratifying to know that almost all respondents disclosed that they would be willing to report (97 percent) and be tested (97 percent) if they show any sign of COVID-19 as well as willing to be quarantined (97 percent) if they are at risk of spreading the virus disease. The survey considered various demographics including age group, gender and geographical location. The results show discrepancies in perception across these demographics. The percentage of respondents who are aware of COVID-19 is considerably high, showing impact of various awareness messaging created by government agencies, organizations and individuals. The spread of awareness is equally high among all the geo-political zones as each zone has higher than 70 percent awareness. All the age groups also have awareness of 80 percent or higher however, more awareness is needed in this regard to more citizens in the know. The fact that a considerably higher percentage of respondents think they are not immune to COVID-19 is a strong indicator that citizens will strive to prevent themselves from getting infected with the disease. There is also a need for more targeted messaging to do away with some myths about immunity against COVD-19. The fact that 40 percent of respondents think they are immune to COVID-19 because they are children of God validates the need for the messaging. There seems to be concern around the land about possibly getting infected with COVID-19 by the citizens with 63 percent showing their concern. However, despite older people being more likely to have higher fatality from the disease, young people in the age group 18-35 have higher concern than the older age group 60+. There is a need to do more on enlightening the citizens on how to protect themselves from getting infected with COVID-19 as just 50 percent admitted to knowing and no zone has an awareness rate higher than 55 percent. Cough seems to be the major symptom of COVID-19 as identified by citizens. However, other symptoms such as fever, sneezing, body weakness and sore throat are also identified. Knowledge of the major modes of transmission is also spread among respondents with body contact with infected person being the most perceived mode, hence there is need to emphasize more in awareness messaging. Also, respondents showed appreciable knowledge of measures to take to prevent themselves with regular hand washing perceived to be the most effective. There is also a need to emphasize on these however, in awareness messaging by government and organizations. The willingness of respondents to report when they start having symptoms and get tested and quarantined if need be is very encouraging and goes to show that citizens are aware of the effect of the disease on themselves and others. However, government and her agencies need to do more to improve the confidence of the citizens in their ability to provide the needed care and manage cases of COVID-19. Majority of the respondents already think the government is doing enough and building more confidence that the government can handle the COVID-19 cases effectively is paramount to sustain the thought. This survey will serve as reference for government at all levels, organizations and individuals working in the health space for effective planning and implementation of activities to successfully prevent Nigerians from COVID-19. It will provide opportunity to prioritize actions and messaging to build and sustain trust between government and citizens, as well as fully take measures to further restrict the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing, good hygienic practices like hand washing remain the most effective ways in protecting oneself from the virus. Detection, containment and contact tracing should be a high priority of the approach adopted and must be backed with high commitment by the different health agencies of the government and the general public. Survey Methods The poll was conducted in the week commencing March 9th, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. With this sample size and selection, we are 95% confident that the results obtained are statistically precise within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%. We recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we are confident of the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, 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. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus [2] https://www.cityofarcata.org/891/Coronavirus-Information [3] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses [4] https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html [5] https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html [6] https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus [7] https://www.ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps/?cat=14&name=An%20update%20of%20COVID-19%20outbreak%20in%20Nigeria [8] https://www.theafricareport.com/24698/top-10-coronavirus-fake-news-items/ [9] https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926373

In Commemoration of International Women’s Day; Majority of Nigerians Attest to Gender Inequality Abuja, Nigeria. March 10th, 2020 – NOIPolls joined the rest of the world in celebrating the 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8th March, 2020. The IWD is a worldwide annual event aimed at achieving the gender equality globally. The theme for this year is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”, #EachforEqual. The Day was an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. In commemoration of the IWD, NOIPolls conducted a public opinion poll to gauge the perception of Nigerians on gender equality in the country. The poll result revealed that there is an enormous gap in gender equality in Nigeria especially in politics, family and the society at large. 66 percent of Nigerians were of the view that there is gender inequality in Nigeria, however, 73 percent admitted that there should be gender equality regardless of what the current situation is in the country. Further findings revealed that women are not currently given equal opportunities as men in politics, family and the society as stated by more than 56 percent of the respondents in each category. However, this perception is slightly different with respect to workplace as 54 percent of Nigerians agreed that women are currently given equal opportunity as men in that area. It is therefore, important that the issue of gender inequality is tackled to allow for diversity of opinion and participation of different groups in the country. Interestingly, 65% of Nigerians are of the opinion that status quo should be maintained while 15 percent believe that gender equality can be achieved by passing the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill (GEOB) by members of the National Assembly. Lastly, most Nigerians (62 percent) disclosed that gender should not be considered when deciding on a leadership position rather merit, capability and qualification should be the yardstick for deciding leadership positions. Hence, this is a call that women should be in the fore front of societal development as well as having a better representation in leadership positions. These are key findings from the gender equality poll conducted in the week commencing February 24th, 2020. Survey Background International Women’s day is a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate women and their achievement in various facets of life. It also a day to reflects on the progress made in the pursuit of gender equality given that no country in the world has achieved gender equality. Statistics has shown that about 2.7 billion women around the world could not access the same choice of jobs as men because of legal restrictions which clearly shows the issue of gender inequality in the world.[1] Also, less than 25 percent of parliamentarians around the world were women as of 2019.[2] Although, it has been shown that despite achievement of women in various aspects of human endeavour, the change regarding gender equality is agonizingly slow for majority of women and girls around the world. Hence, this calls for more action to realize the dream of gender equality globally. The year 2020 represents an unmissable opportunity to mobilize global action to achieve gender equality and human rights of all women and girls. Against this background, NOIPolls conducted a public opinion poll to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding gender equality in Nigeria. Survey Findings The first question gauged the status quo with respect to gender equality in the country currently. The poll result revealed that slightly more than 3 in 10 adult Nigerians indicated that there is gender equality in the country whereas majority of the respondents stated otherwise. Analysis by gender showed that there are more male (41 percent) than female (27 percent) respondent who mentioned that there is gender equality in the country. Regardless of previous response, respondents were asked: Do you think there should be gender equality in Nigeria? Ironically, the findings disclosed that a greater proportion of Nigerians (73 percent) believe that they should be gender equality in the country. As expected, there are more female (80 percent) than male respondents who believe that there should be gender equality in the country. Further analysis by geo-political zone showed that the South-West zone (88 percent) had more respondents who believe that there should be gender equality in Nigeria whereas the North-East zone (44 percent) had more respondents who said that there should not be gender equality in Nigeria. Subsequently, a current assessment of gender equality in some aspect of life revealed that women are only given opportunities as men in workplaces as disclosed by 54 percent of Nigerians interviewed. On the other hand, with regards to politics (61 percent), family (57 percent) and the society (56 percent) Nigerians disagreed that women are currently given equal opportunities as men in these aspects. Similarly, it is interesting to note that Nigerians agreed that women should be given equal opportunities as men in workplace (88 percent), politics (76 percent), society (76 percent) and family (65 percent). With regards to recommendations, it is shocking that, a larger proportion of Nigerians (65 percent) suggested that the status quo in gender should be maintained as it is currently. However, while 20 percent Nigerians advocated that women should be given equal opportunity as men in governance, 15 percent proposed making policies to support gender equality in the Nigeria. Furthermore, when respondents were asked: Do you think gender should be considered when deciding on a leadership position? Finding revealed that 38 percent of the Nigerians said yes while 62 percent responded negatively. Analysis by gender showed that there are more female (69 percent) than male (55 percent) respondents who mentioned that gender should not be considered when deciding a leadership position. Of the 38 percent who indicated that gender should be considered, 24 percent stated this because they believe that some leadership positions are gender sensitive hence is should be taken into consideration when deciding a leadership position. Other reasons given are because ‘men are the head of house’ (20 percent), ‘some religion does not support women leading the society’ (18 percent) and ‘women are to weak to lead’ (18 percent) amongst other reasons. Likewise, of the 62 percent who stated that gender should not be considered, 43 percent insisted that merit, capability and qualification should be a yardstick for electing people into leadership positions. This is followed by Nigerians (29 percent) who asserted that all humans are equal before the law and 25 percent who mentioned that women can do better than men when it comes to leadership amongst other reasons. In conclusion, the poll has revealed that there is an enormous gap in gender equality in Nigeria especially in politics, family and the society at large. Therefore, it is pertinent that the issue of gender inequality is tackled to allow for diversity of opinion and participation of different groups in the country. Also, gender equality can be achieved by passing the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill (GEOB) by members of the National Assembly as advocated by 15 percent of Nigerians. Finally, findings from the poll revealed that most Nigerians (62 percent) stated that gender should not be considered when deciding on a leadership position rather merit, capability and qualification should be the yardstick for deciding leadership positions. Hence, this is a call for women to ensure that the level of participation in position of leadership in the society increases as this will foster a better representative of women in leadership positions. Survey Methods The poll was conducted in the week commencing February 24th, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. With this sample size and selection, we are 95% confident that the results obtained are statistically precise within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%. We recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we are confident of the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, 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. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day [2] https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day

Nigerians Maintain a High Awareness of Lassa Fever Disease in 2020 Abuja, Nigeria. March 3rd, 2020 – In 2016 and 2018, NOIPolls in partnership with EpiAFRIC conducted an opinion poll to seek the perceptions of Nigerians regarding the awareness of, mode of transmission of, symptoms of and awareness on possible preventive measures for Lassa Fever. The poll was repeated in 2020 and showed that a high level of awareness about the outbreak in the country was maintained though with 2 percent drop when compared to the 2018 survey. The poll result revealed that there is a high level of Lassa Fever disease awareness amongst Nigerians and awareness is highest in the South-West (89 percent) and North-East zones (87 percent) of the country. The poll also showed that this awareness is commonly driven through radio (50 percent), television (31 percent), word of mouth (22 percent), Social media (20 percent) and newspapers (8 percent). With regards to transmission, rat infected food stuff is generally believed to be the main mode of transmission, while some identified fever (44 percent), headache (35 percent), mucosal bleeding (14 percent) and vomiting (12 percent) to be among the symptoms of the disease. Further findings revealed that respondents (44 percent) maintained that keeping their houses clean especially the kitchen is one of the ways in which they can avoid being infected by the virus. While majority of the Nigerians (95 percent) indicated that they are willing to go to public hospital or health care if affected by the disease, 59 percent of Nigerians also expressed their confidence with their local hospital to be able to manage cases of Lassa Fever in the country. Lastly, 83 percent of the respondents admitted that the Ministry of Health has being carrying out enough sensitization about the disease across the country. These are some of the key findings from the Lassa fever poll conducted in the week commencing February 17th, 2020. Survey Background Lassa fever is a severe and often deadly virus-related illness, with fever, caused by Lassa virus and happening predominantly in West Africa. It is also known as Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever (LHF) and is typically acquired from infected rodents. Research has shown that it is prevalent during the dry season. Lassa fever was first discovered originally in 1969 in Lassa, a remote village in Borno State, Nigeria and since then, there have been numerous outbursts of different level and severity across West Africa. A yearly assessment of this deadly disease revealed as much as 5, 000 deaths and 300, 000 infections across West Africa, yet, lack of resources to detect the illness on time, insufficient data and inadequate surveillance had resulted in several other cases not accounted for.[1] The World health Organization describes Lassa fever as endemic in Nigeria and the annual peak of human cases is usually observed during the dry season (December–April). This follows the reproduction cycle of the Mastomys species of rats in the wet season (May – June). Recently, response to Lassa fever has improved in Nigeria, led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). NCDC has done so much work to prevent and respond to Lassa fever at the national level. However, it is imperative that states and local governments take responsibility to sustain the work of the NCDC in their respective locations. NCDC activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) with an inter-disciplinary, multi-partner technical team to ensure a well-coordinated response and swift control of Lassa fever outbreaks across affected states. Confirmed cases are being treated in the designated treatment centers in the affected states following optimized standard of care protocols. Guidelines for appropriate case management and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures have been disseminated to the different states. While Nigeria is a Lassa fever endemic country and the NCDC has developed capacity for managing Lassa fever outbreaks, the current overall risk is considered moderate at national level. However, risks exist mostly due to socio-cultural practice in food management and lack of proper hygiene. Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good “community hygiene” to discourage rodents from entering homes. Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, and maintaining clean households. Given this background, NOIPolls in partnership with EpiAfric conducted a recent poll to seek the perceptions of Nigerians regarding the awareness, mode of transmission, symptoms and to ascertain their awareness on possible preventive measures of Lassa Fever. Survey Findings The 2020 survey shows that 78 percent of the respondents were aware of the recent outbreak of Lassa Fever Virus in the country. In the 2018 survey, respondents’ level of awareness on the Lassa Fever outbreak was 80 percent, while 2016 report showed that 81 percent awareness. This means that there has been a total 3 percent decrease in level of awareness since 2016 Further analysis indicates that in 2020, North-East, North-central and North-east zones had higher levels of awareness of the outbreak of Lassa Fever disease. However, while the south west zone had the highest score of 89 percent, the south-south and south east zones showed the lowest level of awareness at 67 percent and 68 percent respectively, despite being among zones with most cases of Lassa fever. Past survey shows very similar levels of awareness across age distribution. However, the 2020 poll shows more people above 60 years of age are aware of the disease compared to youths aged between 18 and 35 years. Nationwide, there has been a 3 percent point decrease in awareness since the 2016. During the survey, it was important to note the respondents’ source of awareness. The 2020 survey results indicate that, when the question “How did you hear about the outbreak of Lassa Fever disease?” was asked, ‘radio’ (50 percent) topped the list of sources of awareness and ‘television’ was second with 31 percent. In comparison with past polls, there is a steady increase for radio from 39 percent in 2016. Social media also increased by 9 percent (from 11 percent at the 2018 to 20 percent in the 2020). It further indicates a decline in information dissemination from TV by 16 percent between 2016 and 2020 polls. The survey sought to assess respondents’ knowledge on the modes of transmission of Lassa fever. Nationwide, the mode of transmission with the highest value cited by participants was ‘rat infected food stuff’ (which is 9 percent more than the 2018 survey results). Across gender, geo-political zones and age groups, this was the most widely held opinion; 12 percent of respondents indicated that Lassa fever virus is transmitted by ‘eating bush meat’ (4 percent more than indicated in the 2018 poll). Symptoms of Lassa fever mimic those of malaria, therefore it is important to know these similarities in symptoms. To determine their level of awareness, respondents were asked to identify symptoms exhibited by Lassa Fever patients. Findings from the survey revealed that 44 percent of respondents identified fever as a symptom of Lassa fever (a massive 22 percent decrease from 2018 poll). Thirty-five percent of respondents identified headache as a symptom of Lassa fever, 3 percent identified chest pain as a symptom of Lassa fever, 2 percent identified facial swelling as a symptom of Lassa fever. Other symptoms the respondents mentioned were sore throat (8 percent), chest pain (3 percent) and back pain (5 percent) and facial swelling (2 percent). Furthermore, the survey also sought to assess respondents’ knowledge of the preventive measures people can take to avoid being infected. Respondents were asked ‘what preventive measures would you take to avoid being infected by the virus?’. Forty-four percent of respondents identified “keep the house clean especially the kitchen” as a preventive measure to take to avoid being infected by a virus. In contrast, 7 percent of respondents identified “block all rat hideouts” as a preventive measure to take to avoid being infected by a virus. Findings form the survey revealed that 95 percent of respondents would be willing to go to a public hospital/primary health centre if they were infected by the disease. Findings from the survey revealed in 2016 and 2018 that 92 percent of respondents would be willing to go to a public hospital/primary health center if they were infected by the disease. However, in 2020, 95 percent of respondents would be willing to go to a public hospital/primary health center if they were infected by the disease. This shows a 3 percent-point increase in health-seeking behaviors. Findings from the survey revealed that 83 percent of respondents believe that the Ministry of Health carried out enough sensitization on Lassa fever. Trend analysis shows that 83 percent of respondents in 2016 believe that the Ministry of Health carried out enough sensitization on Lassa fever. However, that reduced in the 2018 and increased again to 83 percent in the 2020 poll. In conclusion, the survey has shown that the level of awareness of the outbreak has seen a general 3 percent reduction nationwide. From 1 January through 9 February 2020, 472 laboratory confirmed cases including 70 deaths (case fatality ratio= 14.8 percent) have been reported in 26 out of 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory. Of the 472 confirmed cases, 75 percent have been reported from three states: Edo (167 cases), Ondo (156 cases) and Ebonyi (30 cases). The poll findings show that the South-South and south-East zones had lowest level of awareness at 67 percent and 68 percent respectively, despite being amongst the zones with the most cases of Lassa fever. Furthermore, radio still tops the list as the most common source of information for Lassa fever disease. The Lassa fever 2020 survey results showed that 50 percent of the respondents selected ‘radio’ as their main channel of awareness. However, every channel of communication must be maximized in order to reach as many people as possible. With the increase in the use of social media and increasing internet penetration, the 2020 poll saw an increase in these platforms by 9 percent. Although, Lassa fever polls from 2016 through 2018 and 2020 indicate high levels of awareness of Lassa Fever, as well as awareness of modes of transmission and good knowledge of what to do to prevent the disease. However, the underling behavioral issues haven’t been addressed. Foodstuff are still dried in the open and people still exhibit poor attitudes to refuse disposal. Perhaps a liaison between health and agencies that improve environmental wellbeing at community levels may drive behavioral change. Finally, the polls showed about 59 percent confidence in the health care system – 11 percent drop in confidence from 2016 polls. However, respondents demonstrated high levels of willingness to see care at hospitals when infected by the disease. Healthcare workers have been urged to always adopt the test and treat practices especially for malaria and to maintain a high index of suspicion in managing suspected Lassa fever. Further, health workers should also practice adequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in managing all patients. Survey Methods The poll was conducted in the week commencing February 17, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. With this sample size and selection, we are 95% confident that the results obtained are statistically precise within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%. We recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we are confident of the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, 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. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/Lassa_Fever_Fact_Sheet.pdf

International Condom Day 2020; Almost 3 in 10 Nigerians Use Condom Regularly Abuja, Nigeria. February 13th, 2020 – In commemoration of the International Condom Day (ICD), NOIPolls in partnership with Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) conducted a nationwide public opinion poll regarding condom accessibility and use in Nigeria. The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of adult Nigerians (92 percent) are aware of what a condom is and what it is used for. This is heartwarming considering the pivotal role condom plays in family planning and in safe-guarding people against STDs and other infections. However, with regards to perception and attitude on condom, 63 percent of Nigerians stated that the first thing that comes to their mind when they hear the word condom is sexual pleasure, while 45 percent disclosed that they instantly think of promiscuity when they see someone with a condom. Further findings revealed that accessibility of condom is high, for instance, the survey showed that 82 percent of Nigerians mentioned that it is very easy to purchase condom in their locality. Analysis by geographical location showed that the South-East region (94 percent) had more respondents who stated that it is very easy to purchase condom in their locality while the North-Central and North-West accounted for the lowest with 77 percent each. When asked if condom should be free, 61 percent said yes, while 39 percent answered negatively. Of the proportion who think it should not be free, 36 percent specifically mentioned that it should be sold ₦50.00. With regards to the preferred outlet to purchase a condom, a larger number of the respondents (69 percent) preferred to access condoms from either a chemist or pharmacy. Opinion on general consumption pattern revealed that 83 percent of adult Nigerians believe that people should use condom. Of this proportion, 58 percent mentioned that people should use condom mainly to avoid contracting STDs. However, opinion on personal consumption pattern showed that only 34 percent of Nigerians acknowledged that they use condom. It is important to note that this is 34 percent of the general population as the survey did not screen for condom use among high risk individuals. Of the 34 percent of the general population that use condoms, 64 percent stated that they use it mainly for family planning and to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Interestingly, analysis by geopolitical zones showed majority of resident in the North-East (98 percent) use condoms mainly for family planning and for preventing unwanted pregnancy while 47 percent and 38 percent of respondents from the South-South and South-East respectively use condoms mainly for protection against STDs. By age, respondents aged 61 years and above use condoms for protection against STDs while understandably, respondents aged 18 – 35 (66 percent) and 36 – 60 (63 percent) use condoms for family planning and prevention of unwanted pregnancy. Of the 34 percent of the general population that use condoms, only 28 percent of them use condoms consistently. Of the 66 percent of the general population that stated that they do not use condom, the main reason cited by 34 percent was that it is against their religious belief. Analysis by geographical location showed that the North-West region (78 percent) and the North-East region (74 percent) had more respondents who said that they do not use condom. It is important to note that 17 percent of those who do not use condoms say they do so because they either do not like it or that it is not pleasurable and the South-West (25 percent) and the North-West (24 percent) had the most respondents who stated these reasons. Lastly, to foster publicity of condom in the society, 52 percent of the respondents believe that it is appropriate to promote the use of condom to Nigerians form the age of 18, while most of the respondents (78 percent) disclosed that they are likely to recommend the use of condom to someone. Therefore, it is important that advocacy groups and other concerned stakeholders create awareness on the negative effects of not using condom as emphasized by 58 percent of the respondents. This awareness should be centered more on Nigerians who believe it is against their religious belief and those who believe it promotes promiscuity. Interventions such as providing free condoms could also help increase the level of consistent condom use in the country for effective prevention of HIV and STDs, especially for individuals who find condoms to be inappropriate. These are some of the key findings from the condom poll conducted in the week commencing February 3rd, 2020. Brief Background Condom is a barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the chances of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. For instance, the usage of condom has been proven to effectively decrease the rate of transmitting diseases like gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomonas, hepatitis B and HIV.[1] The International Condom Day (ICD) is observed annually on the 13th of February and promotes safer sex awareness in a fun and creative way while encouraging people to use condoms. According to data report, Nigeria needs about 600 million condoms annually. Closing this gap requires leveraging the relative strengths of all sectors – public, media, social marketing and commercial partners to enhance the sustainability of condom promotion, especially for key population groups in high burden areas of Nigeria. Against this background, NOIPolls in partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) conducted a nationwide public opinion poll regarding condom accessibility and use in Nigeria. Survey Findings The first question sought to gauge awareness of Nigerians regarding condom and the result revealed that an over whelming majority of Nigerians (92 percent) are conscious of what a condom is, while 8 percent claimed that they are not aware of what it is. The importance of condom in preventing HIV/AIDS and STDs cannot be over-emphasized hence the need to continue efforts at the awareness of condom particularly for the benefit of those who claimed not to be aware of what it is. Furthermore, respondents were asked of their first impression when they hear the word condom and the findings showed that most of the respondents (63 percent) think of sexual pleasure whenever they hear the word condom. Others things mentioned include ‘protection against unwanted pregnancy’ (11 percent), ‘promiscuity’ (10 percent), protection against sexually transmitted disease (9 percent) and those who said they get irritated (4 percent) as well as respondents who claimed that nothing comes to their mind (3 percent) when they hear the word condom. Similarly, respondents were asked what they think when they see someone with condom and the survey result revealed that 48 percent of respondents specified promiscuity while 45 percent stated they think of being protective when they see someone with a condom amongst other responses. With regards to preference in where to get condoms, most Nigerians (69 percent) mentioned that they would prefer to get their condoms from a chemist/pharmacy. Respondents from the South-West zone had more people who prefer to get a condom from a chemist/pharmacy. Others outlets mentioned include ‘Health facility’ (20 percent), Supermarket (6 percent), Hotel (3 percent) and kiosk (2 percent). Perception on general consumption pattern revealed that majority of adult Nigerians acknowledged that people should use condom however, 17 percent responded negatively when asked the same question. Out of the 83 percent who agreed people use condoms, 58 percent were of the opinion that people should use condoms mainly to prevent STDs. This is followed by 19 percent who said it is to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS while 16 percent stated that the use of condom prevents early pregnancy. Also, 7 percent think people should use condom solely for family planning. On the other hand, of the 17 percent who disapproved the use of condom, 24 percent gave reason stating that condoms are not reliable while another 24 percent mentioned that it is because condoms promote immorality. Other reasons mentioned include ‘it is a tool for sin’ (18 percent), ‘it doesn’t protect totally’ (14 percent), ‘it is not satisfactory’ (11 percent) and those that said it is a personal decision (9 percent). Although 83 percent of adult Nigerians previously stated that they think people should use condom, when respondents were asked if they use condom, the result revealed that only 34 percent of the respondents admitted that they use condom. Analysis by gender indicated expectedly that there are more male (39 percent) than female (28 percent) who stated that they use a condom. Also, evaluation by age-group showed that Nigerians aged 18 – 35 years had more respondents who acknowledged that they use of condom. On the other hand, 66 percent of the general population claimed that they do not use a condom and respondents from the North-West had more people who said that they do not use a condom (78 percent). Respondents who admitted that they use condom were further probed to give reasons why they use condom. Family planning and to protect against unwanted pregnancy (32 percent each) topped the lists of reasons given for the use of condom. An evaluation by gender indicated that there are more male (35 percent) than female (28 percent) respondents who disclosed that they use condom mainly for family planning. Further analysis by geographical location showed that while the North-West zone had more respondents who mentioned that they use it primarily for family planning, the South-East zone had more people saying that they use condom to protect against unwanted pregnancy. Correspondingly, of the 66 percent of respondents who said they do not use condom, 33 percent said that is majorly because it is against their religion, while 19 percent it is because their spouse does not like it amongst other reasons. It is important to note that 17 percent of those who do not use condoms say they do so because they either do not like it or that it is not pleasurable and the South-West (25 percent) and the North-West (24 percent) had the most respondents who stated these reasons. To foster greater awareness of condom, most Nigerians (52 percent) believe that it is appropriate to promote the use of condom to Nigerians from the age of 18. Analysis by age-group showed that respondents aged between 18 – 35 years had more respondents who said that it is appropriate to promote the use of condom to Nigerians who are aged 18 years. Lastly, 58 percent of Nigerians stated that creating awareness on the effects of not using a condom would go a long way in encouraging people to use condom. The South-South zone had the highest number of respondents (72 percent) who supported this statement. Also, 31 percent laid emphasis on ensuring the awareness is carried out in rural areas, which could be attributed to lack of adequate health information among people living in rural areas. In conclusion, the survey has shown that more than 9 in 10 adult Nigerians (92 percent) are aware of what a condom is and what it is used for. This is encouraging given the essential role condom plays in preventing HIV/AIDS and other STDs. With respect to perception and attitude on condom, 63 percent of Nigerians admitted that the first thing that comes to their mind when they hear the word condom is sexual pleasure, while 45 percent disclosed that they instantly think of promiscuity when they see someone with a condom. Opinion on general consumption pattern revealed that 83 percent of adult Nigerians believe that people should use condom. However, opinion on personal consumption showed that only 34 percent of Nigerians admitted that they use condom. Of this number, only 28 percent of them stated that they use condoms consistently. It is important to note that this is 34 percent of the general population as the survey did not screen for condom use among high risk individuals. The major reason cited among those that do not use condoms is that it is against their religion (34 percent). Furthermore, to create better awareness of condom, 52 percent of respondents believe that it is appropriate to promote the use of condom to Nigerians from the age of 18and it is reassuring to know that 78 percent of Nigerians disclosed that they are likely to recommend the use of condom to someone. Finally, 58 percent requested that advocacy groups and other concerned stakeholders should create awareness on the negative effects of not using condom. Provisions of free condoms by these agencies could also help increase consistent condom use in the country. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing February 3rd, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, 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. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news/condoms-joint-positionpaper/en/

In Commemoration Of International Day Of Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation; Nigerians Supports Legislation To End The Practice Abuja, Nigeria. February 4th, 2020 – NOIPolls joins the world in commemorating the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation which is observed on 6th February every year. Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women. According to report, about 200 million women and girls have been mutilated globally.[1] In Nigeria, about 20 million women and girls have been mutilated implying that 1 out of every 10 mutilated women in the world is Nigerian.[2] Given the above background, NOIPolls conducted a poll to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Nigerians towards the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country. The poll revealed that that majority of adult Nigerians (88 percent) are willing to support a legislation to end female genital mutilation mainly due to the health complications associated with the practice. This is in line with the effort of the United Nations Population Fund which strives to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation by 2030 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which prohibit any form of harmful practices against people generally especially children and women. Although the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) was passed into law in Nigeria in 2015 to criminalise FGM practice, lack of enforcement of the VAPP Act is an issue given that it has not been domesticated in states. Currently, 13 out of 36 states in Nigeria have their own individual state laws expressly prohibiting FGM/C. These states are Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Ogun, Delta, Ebonyi, Oyo, Imo, Edo, Cross-River and Rivers however, the VAPP Act is actively enforced in only 3 out of the 36 states in Nigeria and also in the FCT; these 3 states are Anambra, Oyo and Ebonyi.[3] Furthermore, perception on prevalence revealed that 19 percent of Nigerians disclosed that this practice is still prevalent in the country. At the zonal level, 33 percent of respondents in the South-East, 27 percent in the South-South and 25 percent in the North West reported the practice as prevalent in their locality. Significantly, during the course of the survey, our analysts interviewed a couple of respondents from the South-South zone who were planning imminent circumcision of their daughters but were dissuaded due to the survey enlightenment. Some respondents (mainly mothers) in the South East region personally revealed that they are continuing with the practice because they had no complications whatsoever when it was done to them while some respondents particularly from the South West divulged that tradition demands that they carry out the practice else they may be excommunicated in their community. When asked of the health risks associated with FGM, most of the respondents cited infections (48 percent) and complications during childbirth (35 percent). This corroborates reports which has shown that girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health. Therefore, there is urgent need to carry out public enlightenment campaign on the dangers linked with FGM as recommended by 62 percent of Nigerians. This can be achieved by a coordinated and systematic effort in engaging grassroot communities and focusing on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. It is also important that more states domesticate the VAPP act. These are some of the key findings from the Female Genital Mutilation poll conducted in the week commencing 27th January, 2020. Brief Background The United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated this day as the international day of zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of the practice. The UN has realized that ending female genital mutilation in one decade will require support from all and sundry. Hence, it has decided to invest in young people who are indispensable and valuable in this all-important task of eradicating Female Genital Mutilation. This is the main reason why the day focuses on mobilizing youths around the world to join in the campaign of ending the practice. However, Female genital mutilation also known as female circumcision, a procedure done whereby parts of the female genitalia is being removed especially the external parts is still prevalent. This act is usually practiced in some parts of Africa, Middle East and Asia. There are many reasons why FGM is practiced in Nigeria, ranging from cultural reasons to its belief in curbing illicit sexual appetites of women and girls. However, FGM has a lot of negative effects such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health[4]. A lot of campaign has been done both locally and internationally to eradicate this practice by protecting the interest of the girl child, sensitizing parents and guardians on the dangers associated with Female genital mutilation. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls conducted its latest poll to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Nigerians towards the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Survey Findings The first question gauged awareness and the poll result revealed that an overwhelming majority of Nigerians (93 percent) are aware of what Female Genital Mutilation is. This depicts the fact that there is adequate awareness of what Female genital mutilation is among Nigerians and this cuts across gender, geographical location and age-group with a minimum representation of 87 percent. Trend analysis shows a 6 percent increase in the proportion of respondents who are aware of the Female Genital Mutilation as the level of awareness increased from 87 percent in 2017 to 93 percent in 2020. With regards to prevalence, the findings revealed that majority of adult Nigerians (81 percent) stated that Female Genital Mutilation is not prevalent in Nigeria. On the other hand, 19 percent of the respondent disclosed that FGM is prevalent in the country. Interestingly, analysis by gender showed that there are more male (22 percent) than female (17 percent) respondents who stated that FGM is prevalent while analysis by geographical location revealed that Nigerians residing in the South East region had more respondents (33 percent) in this category. Subsequently, the poll gauged support of Nigerians for FGM and the findings showed that most Nigerians (86 percent) are not in support of the practice and this also cuts across gender, geographical locations and age-groups with a minimum representation of 80 percent. It is encouraging to note that a large proportion of Nigerians are not in support of FGM practice considering the danger it poses for people who indulge in the practice. However, 14 percent expressed their support for the practice of FGM, particularly amongst respondents in some South East (16 percent) and South West (15 percent) region as well as older respondents aged 60 and above (20 percent). Trend analysis show that there is a 4 percent increase in the proportion of male respondents who stated that they support of Female Genital Mutilation as it increased from 12 percent in 2017 to 16 percent in 2020. Furthermore, 14 percent of Nigerians who disclosed their support for FGM were further probed to state their reasons and the larger fraction (27 percent) mentioned that ‘it prevents women from being promiscuous’. This was followed by 24 percent who mentioned that ‘it is our tradition’ and 18 percent stated that ‘it has no health complications’ amongst other reasons. However, the United Nation Population Fund reports that practice of FGM have been medically proven to have serious implications for the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women, with attendant issues such as infibulation, severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, tetanus or other infections, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue and septicaemia among other complications during childbirth.[5] Also, respondents who do not support the practice justified their position with the following reasons: ‘It creates health complications’ (23 percent), ‘it violates human rights’ (20 percent) and ‘it is unethical’ (20 percent) amongst other mentions. Perception on health risks associated with FGM practice revealed that most respondents are of the view that it causes infection (48 percent) and they are more respondents from the North West who mentioned this. This is followed by 35 percent of the respondents who stated that it could cause childbirth complications and Nigerians from the South East region had more people saying this. With regards to legislation, majority of Nigerians (88 percent) indicated their support for a legislation to end the practice in the country. On the contrary, 12 percent of the respondents confirmed that they would not support any legislation to eliminate the practice of FGM. Lastly, 62 percent of Nigerians recommended that they should be constant public enlightenment campaign on the effects of FGM. Also, 23 percent suggested that government should ensure that legislation against FGM is enacted in all states while 10 percent advocated for strict enforcement of the law against FGM in the country. In conclusion, the poll has shown that majority of Nigerians (88 percent) are in support of a legislation to end Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria considering the health risks cited by Nigerians. Although the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) was passed into law in 2015 to criminalise FGM practice, difficulty in the enforcement of the VAPP Act is an issue given that it has not been domesticated in the states. Currently, 13 out of 36 states in Nigeria have their own individual state laws expressly prohibiting FGM/C. These states are Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Ogun, Delta, Ebonyi, Oyo, Imo, Edo, Cross-River and Rivers however, the VAPP Act is actively enforced in only 3 out of the 36 states in Nigeria and the FCT and the states are Abuja, Anambra, Oyo and Ebonyi. Finally, there is urgent need to carry out aggressive public enlightenment campaign on the negative effects of FGM as recommended by 62 percent of Nigerians. Therefore, to promote the elimination of female genital mutilation, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing January 27th, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, 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. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/11/fgm-nigeria-20-million-women-and-girls-undergone-female-genital-mutilation [2] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/11/fgm-nigeria-20-million-women-and-girls-undergone-female-genital-mutilation [3] https://impakter.com/female-genital-mutilation-in-nigeria-combative-legislation-and-the-issues-impact-on-the-economic-growth-of-women/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3507121/ [5] https://www.unfpa.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-frequently-asked-questions

In Commemoration Of International Day Of Education, Lack Of Funds And Personal Motivation Blamed For Children Dropping Out Of School In Nigerians Abuja, Nigeria. January 28th, 2020 – The International Day of Education was observed on 24th January 2020, a day announced by the United Nations General Assembly to honour education and its centrality to human well-being and sustainable development. Education offers children a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future. According to report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), about 258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40 percent of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school.[1] Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind. In commemoration of the 2020 International Day of Education, NOIPolls reflects on findings from its past survey on Education in Nigeria conducted in 2017. The survey, which highlighted perception of Nigerians regarding children out of school, revealed that the rate of children dropping out of basic education is high – 15 percent of poll respondents had children in their households drop out of school during the preceding 12 months. Furthermore, the drop-out rates are higher in rural (17 percent) than urban areas (14 percent) and in the North-Central (23 percent) and North-East (24 percent) zones than elsewhere in the country. The reason for school dropout is dominantly financial (73 percent), followed by other factors including Motivation (7 percent), Occupation (7 percent), Early Marriage (5 percent), Lack of Schools in Community (4 percent) and Insecurity (1 percent). With regard to girl-child education, the most important factors militating against girl child education which include; poverty (35 percent), culture and tradition (18 percent), parental literacy (17percent), child marriage (11percent), gender discrimination (10 percent) and religion (7 percent). Also, the poll indicated that lack of schools, insecurity and to a more limited extent early marriage inhibit continuation in school and completion of basic education in the North than in the South. Lack of personal motivation is more important in the South, particularly in the South-East zone. The chart below shows the rate of children dropping out of basic education is still high as 15 percent of poll respondents had children in their households drop out of school during the preceding 12 months, and these increase by age of respondents (18 – 35 years (14 percent); 36 – 60 years (17 percent); above 60 years of (25 percent)). The drop-out rates are higher in rural (17 percent) than urban areas (14 percent) and in the North-Central (23 percent) and North-East (24 percent) zones than any other region in the country. The reasons for dropping out of school are dominantly financial (73 percent) than other factors including motivation (7 percent), occupation (7 percent), early marriage (5 percent), lack of schools in community (4 percent) and insecurity (1 percent). Lack of schools, insecurity and to a more limited extent early marriage inhibit continuation in school and completion of basic education in the North than in the South. Lack of personal motivation is more important in the South but most importantly in the South-East zone. The poll also revealed that there is a high level of support for girl child education as 88 percent of sampled respondents agree that girl child education is important in their communities and the support is not substantially different for men and women. Along age distribution, the support only drops among the older respondents above 60 years of age to 85 percent compared to 88 percent for the rest of the sample. While there is no difference between the North and South in terms of agreement with the benefits of girl child education (although differences exist across geo-political zones), there appears to exist more disagreement with the benefits of the girl child education idea and thus lower support for girl child education in the North (North – 10 percent; South – 7 percent) compared with the South. In conclusion, the survey has revealed that the rate of children dropping out of basic education in Nigeria is high and this is mainly due to financial reasons. The provision of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act 2004 mandating parents/guardians to enrol their children within the ages of basic education age in school or face penalties is not enforced. As a result, the demand-side factors that the Act is intended to suppress (broadly socio-economic and cultural factors) continue to undermine basic education, especially girl education. However, the poll highlights some encouragement like the nationwide support for girl child education which raises the possibility that the challenges of out-of-school children are surmountable in Nigeria. Finally, it is pertinent for full implementation and enforcement of the demand-side provisions of the UBE Act 2004. Also, it is important to intensify advocacy for basic education, especially for girls, among traditional and modern government institutions as well as encouraging private sector and philanthropy to get involved and do more on basic education funding on both demand and supply sides. 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 Email: editor@noi-polls.com cakubue@noi-polls.com badedoyin@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 9 – 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/educationday