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Abuja, Nigeria. July 25th, 2019 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that most Nigerians (85 percent) believe that the issue of rape is prevalent in the country. In 2017, the Nigerian Senate passed a motion to investigate the increasing incidence of rape and sexual assault across the country. And, on July 9th, 2019, the legislators began considering death penalty for rape offenders as they deliberated on a motion “Sexual abuse in Nigeria: a growing scourge” sponsored by Senator Rose Oko, representing Cross River North in Cross River State, and 10 other senators. The poll results further revealed that a larger proportion (62 percent) of the respondents stated that rape is coercing someone to have sex or perform a sexual act only by means of physical force or a deadly weapon. On the definition of consent, a majority (92 percent) of the respondents identified that consent as it relates to rape is one which is given verbally by an individual who is of age and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, it is worrisome to note that 52 percent of Nigerians also believe that consent can be given by an individual who while underage (below 18 years) but still says yes. It is worthy to note that under the Nigerian Criminal Code, sexual intercourse with under aged individuals or individuals with unsound mind is the offence of defilement, and so technically a person could be charged for rape and defilement. About 3 in 10 Nigerians (26 percent) disclosed that they know someone who has been raped in the past and the rape victims were particularly minors and young adults aged between 1 – 15 years (72 percent) and 16 – 25 years (24 percent) respectively. This statistic implies that one in every three girls would have experienced at least one form of sexual assault by the time they reach 25 years. According to the respondents, offenders were mostly strangers (38 percent), while neighbours (24 percent), acquaintance of the victims (18 percent) and relatives (16 percent) accounted for the other categories of offenders. Further probing revealed that most of the rape incidence happened either at the victim’s residence (36 percent) or at the offender’s residence (24 percent). There are perceptions that rape cases have been under-reported especially to the Police, findings showed that slightly more than half (53 percent) of the respondents mentioned that rape incidence were reported to the Police. Out of this proportion, 67 percent acknowledged that the offenders were arrested, while 33 percent claimed that the offender was not arrested. This implies that about 3 in 10 perpetrators of this atrocious crime often don’t face the drum or the dictates of the law against the crime even when reported to the police. Comparing the results of this pole with an earlier poll conducted in 2014 show a 25 percent decline in the proportion of Nigerians who reported rape incidence to the Police. This may suggest that Nigerians are not satisfied with the level of prosecution of rape offenders in the country when reported to the Police. Nonetheless, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, during an exclusive interview with The Guardian News media in Abuja on July 13, 2019, assured Nigerians that the Police and the State owe victims of rape the responsibility to diligently investigate the complaint and bring offenders to book. Sadly, 8 percent of Nigerians disclosed that the incidence was not reported to the police and this was majorly due to fear of stigmatization (46 percent), victim’s family chose not to report (17 percent), thought that the Police may not take the incident seriously (7 percent) and belief that the Police may fail to solve the crime (5 percent) amongst other reasons. Curiously, Nigerians blamed the incidence of rape mainly on indecent dressing (47 percent), excess intake of alcohol by the offenders (36 percent) and victims (34 percent) and promiscuity (34 percent). In terms of justice, Nigerians mostly advocated life imprisonment (37 percent), death penalty (22 percent) and prosecution (20 percent) for offenders of rape in the country. In addition, a larger proportion (41 percent) of Nigerians from the poll recommended that offenders of rape should be punished considering that some of the offenders elude the wrath of the law. Also, 19 percent suggest that there should be more awareness campaign on the dangers of rape to help reduce the increasing trend of rape in the society. It is therefore important that concerned stakeholders’ and the government, particularly the National Orientation Agency, work together to find the most effective way of implementing and disseminating greater awareness campaigns on the dangers as well as the consequences of rape and to reinforce the government’s commitment to end the scourge. Background and Objectives Rape is a social problem of public health concern worldwide. It is a violation of the rights of victims irrespective of gender though, mostly committed against girls/women. It is a form of sexual violence in which sexual activity is unwanted, non-consensual and with application of physical force, threat or verbal intimidation of the victim. It is a brutal form of violation of the right of an individual which has been condemned worldwide. Nigeria is not an exception as it is regrettable that citizens believe that the prevalence of rape is on the rise. An individual who has been raped faces a lot of social, medical and psychological problems. For instance, genital tract traumas could lead to bleeding, fistulas; abnormal vaginal discharges, sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies which may result to unsafe abortions as well as sexual disorders and mental illnesses amongst other negative effects. This is in addition to the social stigma that accompanies being identified as a rape victim. Rape offenders are usually strangers, family members, friends, acquaintances, supervisors and even religious leaders. However, it is unfortunate that most cases of rape are under-reported mainly due to fear of stigmatization, the intent to protect the victims, belief that the police may fail to solve the crime as well as considering the low rate of prosecution of offenders by the Police. The laws in Nigeria against rape have not been implemented fully against offenders thereby paving way for the continuation of rape in the country. Against this background, NOIPolls conducted this survey to assess the perceptions of Nigerians regarding the prevalence of rape, possible causes as well as various ways to curb it. Survey Methodology The survey was conducted through telephone interviews in the week of July 8th, 2019. A proportionate random nationwide selected sample of 1,000 phone-owning Nigerians, 18 years and above, were interviewed across the six geopolitical zones in the country using a well-structured questionnaire. This sample size provides a 95% confidence interval that the results obtained are within a range of plus or minus 4.65% of the opinions of population. The interviews were conducted in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba. The use of several Nigerian languages reduces the likelihood of a non-response bias. HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE RESULTS OF THE RAPE POLL Perceptions on The Meaning of Consent As it Relates to Rape The poll sought to explore the scenarios that confirm the consent of an individual as it relates to rape. Respondents were asked specifically which of these scenarios mean that an individual has given consent. Analysis of results revealed that majority (92 percent) of the respondents stated that consent is given if an individual who is of age and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol verbally says yes’ and this assertion cuts across gender, geo-political zones and age-groups. Other scenarios that confirms that an individual has given consent to a sexual act according to Nigerians are: when ‘an individual who is underage (below 18 years) but says yes to a sexual act’ (52 percent), when consent was given by an intoxicated individual (39 percent), when ‘someone says yes at first but later says no’ (39 percent) among other mentions as well as when ‘someone says no at first but gives consent after pressure’ (32 percent). Perceptions on The Prevalence of Rape in Nigeria Furthermore, the poll gauged the opinion of Nigerians nationwide regarding the prevalence of rape in the Nigeria. And findings revealed that 85 percent (57 percent + 28 percent) of Nigerians stated that rape is prevalent in Nigeria. Analysis across geo-political zones shows that the North-West zone (92 percent) had the highest share of respondents who stated that rape is prevalence in Nigeria. This is closely followed by the South-West at 91 percent. Interestingly, 32% of residents in the North-East zone did not think that rape is prevalent in Nigeria. Knowledge and Perception of Rape Incidence in Nigeria Our poll revealed that about 3 in 10 Nigerians (26 percent) confirmed that they know someone that has been raped in the past. The North-West (38 percent) and North-East (34 percent) zones accounted for the largest proportion of Nigerians in this category. Additionally, 26 percent of respondents who claimed that they do not know anyone that has been raped in the past have heard someone who has been raped in the past. This brings it to an alarming total of 52 percent of respondents who are aware of a rape incident/victim. Analysis by geo-political zones shows this proportion to be highest in the North-West zone (76 percent) followed by the North-Central (54 percent) and lowest in the South-West zone (30 percent). Victim’s Age Group Respondents who acknowledged that they know some who has been raped in the past were further probed on the age group of the victim. The result indicated that majority of the victims were between 0 – 15 years (72 percent) and 16 – 25 years (24 percent) respectively. Analysis by geo-political zone showed that while the North-West zone had the largest proportion (80 percent) of Nigerians who mention 0 – 15 years, the residents in the South-West zone accounted for the highest number of Nigerians who stated 16 – 25 years. Reporting Channels It is often perceived that the incidence of rape is often under reported in Nigeria. Nonetheless, the poll result showed that slightly more than half of the respondents (53 percent) stated that the rape incidence was reported to the Police. The North-East zone (70 percent) had the largest proportion of respondents in this category. 20 percent specified that some of the incidence was reported to the victim’s parent/guardian, while 8 percent said that it was reported to the victim’s relative amongst other mentions. Remarkably, 8 percent of the respondents disclosed that the incidence was not reported and this assertion is mostly predominant in the North-Central zone (18 percent). Perceived Reason Rape Case Was Not Reported to the Police Respondents who did not report the incidence to the Police were further probed and the findings revealed that they did not report to the Police majorly because of fear of stigmatization (46 percent). This is followed by respondents who said that the victim’s family chose not to report the case (17 percent), while 14 percent were scared of being blamed. It is worthy to note that 8 percent did not report to the Police because they thought that the Police may not take the incidence seriously. Also, 5 percent also believed that the Police may fail to solve the crime. Perceived Causes of Rape in Nigeria Perceptions on possible causes of rape in Nigeria revealed that the incidence of rape is mostly blamed on indecent dressing (47 percent), excess intake of alcohol by both the offenders (36 percent) and victims (34 percent) as well as promiscuity as stated by 34 percent of the respondents amongst several causes mentioned. Perceived Punishment for Rape Offenders in Nigeria According to the respondents, the top three punishment for offenders of rape are life imprisonment (37 percent), death penalty (22 percent) and prosecuting offenders. Other punishment cited includes keeping offenders in rehabilitative custody (7 percent), psychological examination (6 percent), lashing offenders (3 percent) amongst others. Recommendations In terms of suggestions to curb the incidence of rape in Nigeria, the three top recommendations are punishing offenders (41 percent), creating awareness on the dangers of rape (19 percent) and dressing decently (13 percent) amongst several other recommendations. Conclusion In conclusion, the poll having examined the prevalence of rape in Nigeria, attitudes towards reporting incidence of rape and the persecution of rape offenders in Nigeria. It was found that that cases of rape in Nigeria is highly prevalent across Nigeria. Alarmingly, trends on the prevalence of rape showed that only a marginal 1 percent decline has been recorded in the fight against the prevalence of this atrocious crime between 2014 and 2019. Hence, this menace is still a major challenge in Nigeria. Alarmingly, the poll found out that Nigerians considered consent from a minor (less than 18 year) as well as consent from an intoxicated individual as valid consent for sexual activity. Also, this study shows that rape cases are still under reported in Nigeria for reasons such as fear of stigmatization and lack of persecution of offenders by the law amongst other reasons. These two scenarios may likely encourage offenders to perpetrate more of such crimes and may also be the reasons for the poor success recorded in the fight against rape thus far; despite efforts by several government agencies and civil society organizations to mitigate this crime. Hence, the study recommends that if this crime must be mitigated, a nationwide advocacy be carried out by civil society organizations and government agencies that deals with gender issues and sex related crimes. To encourage victims to report rape incidences as get the law to persecute rape offenders and get justice for victims. There is also a huge need on the orientation of Nigerian on the meaning of consent.

Nigerian Households Experienced A Decline in Power Supply in Q2, 2019 Abuja, Nigeria. July, 10th 2019 – The newPower Poll released by NOIPolls for the second quarter (Q2) of 2019 has revealed that power supply to Nigerian households experienced a marginal decline to stand at 31 percent in Q2 from 37 percent obtained in Q1, 2019. This decline may be attributed to the continuous breakdown of the national grid and other daunting challenges experienced at both levels of generation and transmission of electricity in the country within this period.[1] The decline in power supply has in no doubt hampered economic activities, especially of businesses whose operation depends majorly on power supply. On the bright side, it is worthy to note that there has been a steady increase in power supply from the month of April to June 2019. This steady increase observed in Q2, 2019 could be ascribed to the raining season as the water level in the hydroelectric power generation is within expected capacity. The poll results also revealed that the quarterly average cumulative hours of power supply experienced a marginal decline to stand at 9.2 hours in Q2, 2019 from 9.6 hours in Q1, 2019. This cumulative hourly average for Q2, 2019 is a considerable far cry from 24 hours of power supply which is required for the overall progress and development of the country and its citizenry. Background The power situation in Nigeria has continued to worsen over the years despite the weighty and substantial investments in the sector by past and present administrations in the country. What is more worrying in the power conundrum is that the more money is expended in the sector, the darker the country becomes as regards to power supply.[2] For instance, Nigeria has expended an estimate sum of N5 trillion ($31.45 billion) in the last 20 years to generate power however, only a maximum of about 5,074 Megawatts of electricity could be generated within this period; which is still grossly inadequate and derisory. It is also worthy of note that the national grid in Nigeria has collapsed three times in 2019 thereby plunging the country into darkness. This detrimental and undesirable event highlights a major challenge in the power sector which needs urgent attention due to its devastating effects on the country’s economy. It must also be stated that for a country of approximately 200 million Nigerians, a minimum of 30,000 megawatts of electricity need to be generated. It is against this backdrop that NOIPolls conducted its quarterly power poll to assess electricity distribution to Nigerian households in the second quarter of 2019. Survey Findings Nationwide Quarterly Tracking on Power Supply Quarterly analysis of results revealed that a larger proportion of Nigerians (37 percent) reported that they experienced better power supply to their respective households in Q1, 2019 than in Q2, 2019 (31 percent). This signifies a 6 percent decline when Q1 is compared to the Q2. Nationwide Quarterly Average Daily Cumulative Power Supply to Nigerian Households Further findings over the period in view showed that the average hours of cumulative power supply to Nigerian households nationwide was also highest in Q1, 2019 at an average of 9.6 hours daily. Nationwide Monthly Tracking on Power Supply Monthly analysis of power supply to Nigerian households Q2, 2019 revealed a steady increase in the proportion of Nigerians who experienced an improvement from April (28 percent) to June (36 percent). Although a closer at the first half of 2019 revealed that more Nigerian households experienced improvement power supply in January (46 percent) compared to any other month in view. Nationwide Monthly Daily Cumulative Hours of Power Supply to Nigerian Households Subsequently, monthly analysis revealed that the month of June (9.4 hours) recorded the highest average daily cumulative hours of power supply to Nigerian households. However, analysis for the first half of the year showed that the month of January had the highest average daily cumulative hours of power supply to Nigerian households which stood at an average of 10.2 hours daily. In conclusion, the poll has revealed a marginal decline in power supply in Q2, 2019 when compared to Q1, 2019. While NOIPolls continues to track the state of power supply in the country, trends have revealed that Nigeria may continue to experience challenges in power supply unless a drastic, concerted and spirited effort is put in place to upgrade the power generation and distribution, as well as pricing in the country. It is imperative that all stakeholders in the power sector and the government to revaluate the strategies set up for addressing the issue of power in Nigeria as not much progress has been recorded since the privatisation of the sector. This exercise should a higher level of concentration on the renewable sources of energy. This singular action of solving the power challenges in the country will bring about the much-needed boost to the country’s economy thereby fostering prosperity and progress for all Nigerians. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted over a period of three months (April to June 2019). It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 3,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited is the No. 1 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 The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1]https://www.power-nigeria.com/en/industry-news/nigeria-power-sector-why-nigerian-cities-towns-villages-are-still-in-darkness.html [2]https://www.power-nigeria.com/en/industry-news/nigeria-power-sector-why-nigerian-cities-towns-villages-are-still-in-darkness.html

The Totally Revamped Website Offers Visitors, Clients and Partners a More Organised Databank of Public Opinion Polls and Research; Over 10 Years Industry Trends, Consumer Patterns, Government Ratings and Other Socio-Economic Issues. Abuja, Nigeria. July 2nd, 2019 – With great excitement, NOIPolls the No. 1 for country-specific polling services in the West African region wishes to announce the launch of its newly revamped website. This newly redesigned website provides quick and easy access to essential information and features that offer a more comprehensive understanding of the Company’s commitment to bridge the gap of data availability in Nigeria. This is mainly through rich, well-organized and maintained collection of public opinion polls and research data for easy access. We are the Go-To for over 10 years of industry trends, consumer patterns, government ratings and other socio-economic issues. The new NOIPolls website, which went live on the 24th of June 2019, has a modern design, improved functionality and richer content which portrays the Company’s mission to provide relevant and timely data for decision making. Our new website also provides robust information for visitors, clients, partners and media to better understand our core competencies, services, coverage and team. We believe that this new site will allow our visitors to have a complete experience as we continue to regularly update public opinion polls, research releases, reports, infographics and events. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for direct emails on https://noi-polls.com/contact-us/ About NOIPolls NOIPolls is the Number one for country specific polling services in West Africa. NOIPolls delivers forward-thinking research and relevant data on public opinion and consumer markets, enhancing the activities of decision makers across all the vibrant sectors of the Nigerian economy. Our goal is to provide timely and relevant information on public opinion on various social and economic issues thus give voice to ordinary citizens, while empowering decision makers in the private and public sectors for better performance and improved governance. For more information on the Company, its products and services, please visit https://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 The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com

Abuja, Nigeria. June 24th, 2019 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls in the week commencing June, 3rd, 2019 has revealed that most Nigerians (84 percent) believe that the issue of child labour is prevalent in the country. The poll further showed that 8 in 10 Nigerians claimed that they normally see children engage in various forms of labour in their respective localities. Data from International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that the number of working children under the age of 14 in Nigeria is estimated to be 15 million.[1] According to the Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Dennis Zulu, during a two-days’ workshop on ACCEL Africa on Friday May 3rd in Abuja, statistics revealed that about 43 percent of children in Nigeria aged between 5 to 10 years were involved in child labour. Despite several measures to combat child labour, it continues to remain a great concern in Nigeria. The Child Rights Act which was passed into law in 2003 defines a child as one who is below the age of eighteen years and it categorically provides that such a child’s best interests shall remain paramount in all considerations. Sixteen years after being incorporated into Nigerian law, the child labour situation has remained a major issue as millions of children are still engaged in child labour activities. For instance, the poll revealed that children are often seen engaged in street hawking (58 percent), domestic work (11 percent) and street begging (10 percent) amongst other labour activities within their localities. Perception on street hawking showed that it is most predominant in the Southern region (79 percent on the average) than in the Northern region (43 percent on the average). However, opinions revealed that street begging and domestic work are highest in the Northern region than in the Southern region. Interestingly, Nigerians blamed the prevalence of child labour on poverty (58 percent), parental neglect (16 percent) and bad economy (10 percent). Moreover, most of the respondents (27 percent) from the poll recommended that more jobs should be created as the rate unemployment in the country could be a contributing factor in the issue of child labour. In addition, 21 percent suggested that government should improve the economy, 18 percent advocated for free education amongst other recommendations. It is therefore, important that the government and concerned stakeholders’ work together to tackle the issue of child labour by implementing more programmes to eradicate poverty and improve the conditions of workers. Government should also create an enabling environment for small scale businesses to thrive in Nigeria in order to improve the economy and increase the employment opportunities. Poll Background The menace of child labour in Nigeria has indeed become a front burner issue in the country which requires urgent attention from all and sundry. Of utmost concern are the implications and the devastating e­ects of child labour on both the child and the society which is better imagined. It is worrisome that most parents are ignorant of such implications while others see it as the new norm for children to beg or hawk on the streets. Child labour refers to the exploitation of children under the age of 18 years through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school; and is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful.[2] Such exploitation is frowned at and prohibited worldwide. It must be clearly stated that these prohibitions do not consider all work by children as child labour; exceptions include work by child artist, family duties and supervised training. Some activities like street hawking, domestic work, street begging, cargo loading, bus conductor, labourers, family business, farming, auto mechanic etc. done by children below the age of 18 years in order to survive are all termed as child labour In Nigeria, many children are seen on a daily basis undertaking one form of labour or the other as enumerated above in order to make a living. Due to certain cultural and religious beliefs, some parents subject their children to child labour as a way to augment their income, others are of the opinion that it is as a result of high rate of poverty and unemployment bedevilling the country. UNICEF’s recent report on child labour revealed that a staggering 15 million children under the age of 14 are working in various fields across Nigeria. Many are exposed to long hours of work in dangerous and unhealthy environments, carrying too much responsibility for their age. Working in these hazardous conditions with little food, small pay, no education and no medical care establishes a cycle of child right violations. Given the statistics above, Nigeria has a high number of children who are engaged in child labour and this calls for a decisive measure to curb this menace and also pro­ffer a solution to it. Against this background, NOIPolls conducted a survey to gauge the opinions of Nigerians regarding child labour and various ways to curb it. Poll Findings The first question gauged the prevalence of child labour in Nigeria and findings from the poll are particularly worrisome as a large share (84 percent) of respondents nationwide believe that the issue of child labour is prevalent in Nigeria. This corroborates findings from International Labour Organization (ILO) which revealed that the number of working children under the age of 14 in Nigeria is estimated to be 15 million.[3] Furthermore, trend analysis revealed a 10 percent decline when current finding is compared with the result obtained 2013. This suggests that concerned stakeholders could have embarked on several awareness campaign that enlightened the general public on the negative effects of child labour in the society at large. However, 84 percent is still on the high side hence more eff­orts need to made to further reduce this figure drastically. Subsequently, the poll revealed that the larger proportion of respondents (80 percent) disclosed that they have observed children engage in one form of labour in their respective localities. Analysis by region revealed that averagely, more respondents from the Northern region (84 percent) than the Southern region (74 percent) made this assertion. Trend analysis also revealed an 8 percent increase in the number of children seen engaged in various forms of labour when the 2019 result is compared to the findings obtained in 2016. Respondents who indicated that they see children engaged in di­fferent labour or jobs were further probed and asked to mention some of these labour or jobs they have seen children engaged in. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents (58 percent) specifically mentioned that they have seen children engage in street hawking in their various localities and the South-South zone accounted for the larger share of Nigerians in this category. This is followed by Nigerians who cited domestic work (11 percent) and street begging (10 percent) amongst other mentions. Perceptions on street hawking showed that it is most predominant in the southern region (79 percent on the average) than in the Northern region (43 percent on the average). However, opinions revealed that street begging and domestic work are highest in the Northern region than in the Southern region. Trend analysis showed that the proportion of Nigerians who mentioned street hawking increased from 47 percent in 2016 to 58 percent in 2019 whereas, there is a decline in the number of those who cited domestic work (from 16 percent in 2016 to 11 percent in 2019). Furthermore, poverty (58 percent), parental neglect (16 percent) and bad economy (10 percent) were the top three factors mostly blamed for the incidence of child labour in Nigeria. While poverty seems to be the major factor Nigerians attribute to the prevalence of child labour, Trend analysis revealed that this perception has declined in 2019 when compared to 2013. Perceptions on how to curb the incidence of child labour in the country were gauged and a larger share of the respondents (27 percent) believe it is by creating more jobs. This will go a long in reducing poverty across the country, thereby reducing the need for children to compliment family income. 21 percent suggested that the government should improve on the economy while 18 percent recommended free education. In conclusion, the poll has shown that the menace of child labour is indeed an issue that needs to be taken more seriously in order to reduce the e­ffect on both the children and the society at large. The various government agencies and stakeholders need to be fully involved in dealing with the issues associated of child labour. The Child Right Act which was passed into law in 2003 in order to curb the menace of child labour has not been implemented by about 11 states in Northern Nigeria.[1] The diff­erent states that have not adopted the Act should be compelled upon to ensure that the Child Right Act is given utmost concern in order to curb the dangers associated with child labour. Government should also create an enabling environment for small scale businesses to thrive in Nigeria in order to improve the economy and increase the employment opportunities. Furthermore, the role of education in reducing the issue of child labour cannot be over emphasized as education remains the basis of growth and development. Additionally, 5 percent of the respondents recommended birth control as a measure to curb child labour. Hence, parents should employ e­ffective family planning methods to have limited number of children they can e­ffectively take care of. Government on its part could put mechanisms in place to ensure public enlightenment and implementation of family planning while, health workers could also be saddled with the strategies for implementation. Finally, the poll has clearly shown that the incidence of child labour is grossly under reported as 82 percent of the respondent are not aware of the reporting channels. Therefore, it is important for government agencies and concerned stakeholders to embark on an intense awareness campaign on the various ways to report the incidence of child labour. Survey Method The poll was conducted in the week commencing June 3rd, 2019. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/329511-12-states-in-northern-nigeria-yet-to-pass-child-rights-law-unicef-official.html [1] https://www.borgenmagazine.com/20-million-nigerian-children-victims-child-labour/ [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/child_labour [3]https://www.borgenmagazine.com/20-million-nigerian-children-victims-child-labour/

Abuja, Nigeria. 28th, May, 2019 – NOIPolls joins the world in commemoration World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which is observed annually on the 31st of May. The annual campaign seeks to inform and sensitize people on the deadly and destructive effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure as well as to discourage the use of tobacco in any form. The theme for the 2019 World No Tobacco Day is “Tobacco and lung health”.[1] The aim of this year’s theme is to increase awareness amongst other things; on the effect of tobacco consumption on people’s health which range from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, the pivotal role lungs play in the overall health and well-being of people and the inter-relationship between tobacco smoking and tuberculosis death.1 For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced as it kills more than 7 million people annually. Sadly, more than 6 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 890 000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.[2] Nigeria is not exempted from this public health threat as it is estimated that more than 16,100 Nigerians die annually from tobacco-related diseases, while over 25,000 children (10 – 14 years) and more than 7.4 million adults continue to use tobacco each day.[3] In commemoration of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), NOIPolls presents findings from its past poll on tobacco consumption. The poll which was conducted in October 2016 highlighted perception of Nigerians concerning the prevalence of tobacco consumption, its harmful effects as well as the level of support for the implementation of Government’s policies on tobacco consumption. The poll results revealed that there is high prevalence (94 percent) of tobacco consumption in Nigeria however, 22 percent disclosed that they consume tobacco. The poll results further showed that tobacco consumption is highly prevalent among the youth aged 18-25 years (56 percent). Interestingly, those aged between 18-35 years (58 percent) accounted for the largest proportion of Nigerians who made this assertion. Also, perception on the effects of smoking tobacco products revealed that most Nigerians (91 percent) acknowledged that it is very harmful and affirmation this cut across gender, geo-political zones and age-groups. Lastly, poll results showed that majority of the respondents were in support of laws aimed at reducing the consumption of tobacco in the country. Remarkably, 79 percent advocated that the health warning labels on the packs of cigarettes should be strengthened, 87 percent indicated that smoking in public places should be banned, 76 percent want tougher restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, while banning of all forms of advertisement for tobacco products was supported by 71 percent of the respondents. The chart below revealed that most Nigerians (71 percent) admitted that there is a high prevalence of tobacco smoking in the country. Also, 23 percent of the respondents stated that it is somewhat prevalent whereas 6 percent reported that tobacco smoking is not prevalent at all. Consequently, perception on smoking habits revealed that a larger proportion of the respondents (69 percent) claimed that they have never smoked tobacco. While 14 percent of the respondents indicated that they smoke tobacco regularly, 8 percent reported that they sometimes smoke tobacco but not regularly. An evaluation of tobacco smoking amongst various age-groups revealed that tobacco consumption is highly prevalent among the youth aged 18-25 years (56 percent) and most of the respondents in this category are those aged between 18-35 years (58 percent). The prevalence of tobacco smoking among youths may be influenced by peer pressure, boosting their ego, getting tipsy, earning perceived recognition or respect, overcoming shyness and depression among other reasons. The opinion of Nigerians about the effects of smoking cigarettes was revealed that most Nigerians (91 percent) considered it to be very harmful. This assertion could suggest that Nigerians are aware of the implications of tobacco consumption. Lastly, poll results indicated that most of the respondents were in support of laws aimed at reducing the consumption of tobacco in the country. 79 percent advocated that the health warning labels on the packs of cigarettes should be strengthened, 87 percent indicated that smoking in public places should be banned, 76 percent want tougher restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, while banning of all forms of advertisement for tobacco products was supported by 71 percent of the respondents. In conclusion, the poll results revealed that there is high prevalence of tobacco consumption mostly among youths aged between 18-25 years. Interestingly, 91 percent of the respondent admited that tobacco consumption is very hamful to a person therefore, there is need for concerted effort in the area of sensitization to educate especially the youths on the dangers and devastating effects of tobacco smoking on human health. Finally, there is need for the effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Act which has already being passed by the 7th Assembly and signed into law in 2015. The implementation and enforcement of the law will no doubt, bring about the much desired control of tobacco smoking and thereby curb the attendant effects of diseases related deaths caused by tobacco consumption. 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 the views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2019/05/31/default-calendar/world-no-tobacco-day [2] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco [3] https://tobaccoatlas.org/country/nigeria/

New Poll Reveals Nigerians’ Perspective On Curbing Illegal Activities By The Nigeria Police Force Abuja, Nigeria. May 22ND, 2019 – A public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls in the week commencing May, 6th, 2019 has revealed a high prevalence of illegal police activities as indicated by majority (78 percent) of Nigerians interviewed. This perception may have been influenced by daily interface between the police and the general public across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. 57 percent of the respondents disclosed that they are aware of some police illegal activities in their locality and residents from the South-South zone (68 percent) accounted for the larger proportion of Nigerians in this category. Interestingly, 83 percent of those who are aware of some police illegal activities mentioned that collection of bribes is one of the most common illegal activity of the Nigerian police personnel. Other police illegal activities cited in the poll include arresting innocent Nigerians (42 percent), intimidating innocent Nigerians (41 percent) and killing of unarmed Nigerians (12 percent) amongst other mentions. This finding is in line with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report which revealed that among public officials, police officers are the ones to whom bribes are most commonly paid in Nigeria.[1] Opinions on how to curb some of these illegal activities by some Nigerian police personnel were suggested and 31 percent recommended that the government should improve police welfare while, 19 percent advocated for proper recruitment and training processes in the Nigeria Police Force. Also, 18 percent advised that the Nigeria Police Force should be reformed and this is in line with Police Reform Bill passed by the Nigerian Senate in April 2019 which is currently awaiting presidential assent. One of the remarkable aspects of the bill is that it provides internal disciplinary mechanism for any police officer that maltreats or kills an innocent citizen and which corresponds with the position of some Nigerians (18 percent) who recommended prosecution or dismissal of any police personnel found guilty of any misconduct. Considering the daily interaction of the Nigerian police personnel with the general public, it is important that the Nigeria Police Force use the same opportunity in working towards changing these negative perceptions of the public. Poll Background The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria. Over the years, the Nigerian police has been saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and properties, maintaining law and order and preventing, detecting and investigating criminal activities. Regrettably, public trust and respect for the Nigeria Police Force is at an all-time low having been eroded by corruption, abuse of power and in some instances, a lack of capacity to actually prevent or solve crimes. The NPF rank and file is regularly found guilty of crimes ranging from extortion to rape, murder and now kidnapping.[2] Nigerians are increasingly losing hope and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force owing to the recent incidents of misconduct and killings by the operatives of the Force. These include battering, shooting of innocent Nigerians, bribery, arrest of innocent Nigerians and unethical behaviors amongst others. For instance, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force stated that Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory police commands recorded the highest cases of police misconduct.[3] The unit also acknowledged that it received 137 complaints against policemen in Lagos, 89 in Rivers and 82 in Abuja.3 There is need for urgent and far-reaching measures to curb the increasing loss of confidence in the Nigeria Police Force. The recent passage of the Police Reform Bill by the Senate is commendable as the importance of this reform cannot be over emphasized. It is against this background that NOIPolls conducted a poll to gauge the opinion of Nigerians regarding illegal activities by police and suggestions on ways to curb the menace. Poll Findings The first question sought the opinions of Nigerians on the prevalence of police misconduct and the poll result showed that 78 percent of Nigerians disclosed that the issues of Nigerian police personnel carrying out illegal activities is prevalent. Analysis by geo-political zones showed that the South-South and South-West zones have the largest proportion of Nigerians (89 percent each) who attested to the high rate of illegal activities by the police. The second question on awareness revealed that almost 6 in 10 Nigerians (57 percent) are aware of some illegal activities by Nigerian police personnel in their locality. This opinion is highest in the Southern region when compared to the Northern region. Also, there are more male (63 percent) than female (53 percent) respondents who are conscious of this misconduct. Respondents who said they are aware of illegal activities by Nigerian police personnel in their locality were further asked to mention at least three illegal activities of the police that they know of and an overwhelming majority of the respondents (83 percent) mentioned the issue of collecting bribe. This is followed by a far lower proportion (42%) who said arresting innocent Nigerians, while 41 percent cited intimidation of innocent Nigerians. Other mentions include killing unarmed Nigerians (12), creating illegal checkpoints (7percent), demanding sex for bail (6 percent), arresting commercial sex workers (2 percent) and hiring out guns to criminals (2 percent). Suggestions on how to curb illegal activities of some Nigerian police personnel were mentioned and most Nigerians advocated for the government to improve police welfare (31 percent), while 19 percent advised that stakeholders should ensure proper recruitment and training processes of police personnel. Some mentioned that the Nigerian Police Force should be reformed, others cited prosecution and dismissal of any guilty police personnel (18 percent each). This is in line with the nine police personnel who were dismissed and six others who were demoted as stated by the Nigeria Police Force through its spokesperson, Mr. Ani Ikechukwu on the 9th of April 2019, in Abuja.[4] In conclusion, findings from the poll is worrisome as it revealed that collection of bribes (83 percent), Arresting innocent Nigerians (42 percent), and intimidating innocent Nigerians (41 percent) are the top three misconducts amongst others as reported by Nigerians who were interviewed. It is important that the Nigeria Police Force aggressively tackle these issues as it will go a long way in restoring the trust and confidence of Nigerians in the Nigeria Police Force. The government should in collaboration with other stakeholder’s workout modalities to improve the welfare of police personnel as recommended by 31 percent of those interviewed. Finally, while the Nigeria Police Force ensure that proper recruitment and training processes are in line with world standards, the Police Service Commission should also ensure that internal discipline in the system is not at all compromised and actively enforced. Survey Method The poll was conducted in the week commencing May 6th, 2019. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-police-judges-highest-bribe-takers-says-un-agency/ [2] https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-police-force-policing-with-force.html [3]https://punchng.com/lagos-rivers-top-cases-of-police-misconduct/ [4] https://www.legit.ng/1232412-breaking-police-dismiss-9-officers-gross-misconduct.html

Abuja, Nigeria. May 14th, 2019 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that a large proportion of Nigerians nationwide disclosed that police brutality on Nigerians is prevalent. Sadly, 40 percent of those interviewed further reported that they have either been or know someone who has been recently brutalised by Nigeria police personnel. For instance, according to news report, a teenage girl was killed by a stray bullet in a shootout between policemen and some cultists in Ikorodu on the 16th of March 2019. Also, on March 25th, an Okada rider was shot dead in Kilo, Surulere area of Lagos while, on March 31st, 2019, late Ademola Moshood was shot dead by police personnel few blocks away from his house in Lagos state. The increase in the case of Police brutality has led to intense pressure from the public to reform the Nigeria Police Force and as such the Nigerian Senate passed the Police Reform Bill in April 2019 for presidential assent. One of the outstanding features of the bill is that it provides internal disciplinary mechanism for any police officer that maltreats or kills an innocent citizen. Further findings revealed that a larger proportion of Nigerians (34 percent) cited ‘poor police welfare’ as the major cause of police brutality on citizens. Other mentions include ‘inadequate training’ of the Nigeria police personnel (17 percent), ‘lack of contentment and greed’ (11 percent), ‘lack of experience’ and the issue of ‘corruption’ within the Nigeria Police Force amongst other mentions. Therefore, there is need for the deployment of a strict measure to curb the menace. The onus now lies on the executive to assent to the Police Reform Bill as a matter of urgency to ensure that this act is put to an end. These are the key highlights from the Police Brutality poll conducted in the week commencing May, 6th 2019. Poll Background The primary duty of a police officer is to protect citizens and properties. For instance, a police officer provides public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies and promoting good community relations. They also Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria. Over the years, the Nigeria police is saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and properties, maintaining law and order and preventing, detecting and investigating criminal activities. Regrettably, public respect for the Nigeria Police Force is at an all-time low having been eroded by corruption, abuse of power and in some instances, a lack of capacity to actually prevent or solve crimes. The NPF rank and file is regularly found guilty of crimes ranging from extortion to rape, murder and now kidnapping.[1] Nigerians are increasingly losing hope and confidence in the Nigeria Police force owing to the recent brutality and killings by the operatives of the force. These include battering, shooting of innocent Nigerians, bribery, arrest of innocent Nigerians and unethical behaviors amongst others. For instance, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force stated that Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory police commands recorded the highest cases of police misconduct. The unit also acknowledged that it received 137 complaints against policemen in Lagos, 89 in Rivers and 82 in Abuja.[2] Police brutality in Nigeria seems prevalent, therefore, there is need for urgent and far-reaching measures to curb the menace. The passage of the Police Reform Bill by the Senate is commendable as the importance of this reform cannot be over emphasized. It is against this background that NOIPolls conducted a poll to gauge the opinion of Nigerians regarding police personnel brutality, illegal activities and suggestions on ways to curb the menace. Poll Findings Police brutality is one of various kinds of police misbehaviour which involves unjustifiable violence by police personnel. In gauging the prevalence of police brutality in Nigeria, 77 percent of the respondents stated that the issue of police brutality in Nigeria is prevalent whereas, 23 percent claimed it is not prevalent. Analysis by geo-political zone showed that Nigerians residing in the South-South and South-West zones (87 percent each) accounted for the larger proportion of Nigerians who asserted that the issue of police brutality is prevalent. Respondents were further probed if they or someone they know has been recently brutalised in any way by Nigeria police personnel; and poll result revealed that 40 percent of the respondents have either been or know someone who has been recently brutalised by Nigeria police personnel. For instance, news report revealed that on March 2nd 2019, a police officer shot a bus driver dead in Mosan, Ayobo area of Lagos for refusing to give the police officer some amount of money he had demanded from the bus driver.[1] This is one of some incidents which have led to the death of an innocent Nigerian. Subsequently, opinions on the main cause of police brutality were assessed and findings revealed that poor police welfare (34 percent) is the major cause of police brutality on citizens. This is followed by those who mentioned ‘inadequate training’ (17) of the Nigeria police personnel, ‘lack of contentment and greed’ (11 percent), ‘lack of experience’ and the issue of ‘corruption’ within the Nigeria Police Force amongst other mentions. In conclusion, the poll has shown that police brutality on citizens in Nigeria is prevalent as indicated by 77 percent of Nigerians. Also, 4 in 10 Nigerians specified that they have either been or know someone who has been recently brutalized by police personnel. Therefore, there is need for a far-reaching measure to curb the menace. The increase in the case of Police brutality has led to intense pressure from the public to reform the Nigeria Police Force and as such the Nigerian Senate passed the Police Reform Bill for presidential assent. One of the notable features of the bill is that it provides internal disciplinary mechanism for any police officer that maltreats or kills an innocent citizen. Finally, while the passage of the Police Reform Bill is a laudable effort, it is worthy to note that the Nigeria police are privy to the fundamental human rights’ provisions under chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. Therefore, firearms against any citizen “except in self – defence or defence of others against threat of death or severe injury or to prevent the escape of a person who has committed a serious or deadly crime while resisting their authority” is unprofessional and barbaric. Survey Method The poll was conducted in the week commencing May 6th, 2019. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-police-force-policing-with-force.html [2] https://punchng.com/lagos-rivers-top-cases-of-police-misconduct/ [3]http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/01/happening-now-police-officer-kills-bus-driver-lagos-video

Abuja, Nigeria. May 7th, 2019 – The lower chamber of the National Assembly commenced a process to prohibit the issuance of estimated bills to consumers by electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). The passage of the Bill, which scaled third reading on the floor of the Green Chamber, would ensure that electricity consumers must be provided with a prepaid meter, hence ending the estimated billing system and the system of paying for power not consumed. In line with the above, NOIPolls presents excerpts from the results and findings of its National Survey on pre-paid meter ownership in Nigeria which was conducted in 2017. The survey revealed that ownership of fixed pre-paid metering is limited to only 9 percent of the population as the time this survey was conducted. According to the 2018 fourth quarter power report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); the report disclosed that the total number of electricity consumers with prepaid meters supplied by the 11 distribution companies (DisCos) in the country are 1,669,675.[1] More findings from the 2017 National Survey indicated that the rest of the population is divided among 41 percent who use post-paid meters and 50 percent who do not have a meter, but simply pay fixed amounts of money for electricity. Being the most efficient way to distribute electricity, usage of pre-paid meters is highest in the South-East zone (13 percent) and lowest in the North-Central and North-West (7 percent apiece). Electric power usage in most cases is charged to non-urban users based on estimates that do not account for periods of power failure that are often prolonged. As expected, urban residents are twice as likely as rural residents to have pre-paid meters. The bill seeks to amend the principal Act by creating new sections 68 to 72, which states that (Section 68 – (1)) estimated billing methodology is hereby prohibited in Nigeria. In subsection (2), it provides that “Every electricity consumer in Nigeria shall apply to the Electricity Distribution Company carrying out business within his jurisdiction for a pre-paid meter and such consumer shall pay the regulated fee for pre-paid meter to be installed in his premises and the Electricity Distribution Company shall within 30 days of receiving the application and payment install the pre-paid meter applied for in the premises of the consumer.”[2] The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as at March 1st 2017, informed electricity consumers (Maximum Demand (MD) customers only not residential) without prepared meters to stop paying electric bills presented by Distribution Companies (DisCos) on the basis of estimated billing methodology.[3] It is equally necessary for NERC to set a deadline for DISCOs to provide prepaid meter billing system for residential customers, especially the 50 percent of Nigerians who do not have a meter as shown in chart below, but simply pay incommensurate amounts of money for electricity. In conclusion, the survey has shown that access to prepaid electricity metering in Nigeria is too low, therefore further reforms of the electricity sector are imminent. It is essential to further improve accountability in the sector by subsidization of prepaid meters to enable low-income households acquire and use them as 50 percent of the population pay for electricity supply by estimated billing system which does not account for periods of power failure that are often prolonged. In a bid to eliminate the estimated billing practices in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), it imperative for the management of all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and other stakeholders to attract private investment into the metering service industry. This will help close the metering gap through accelerated meter roll out and enhance revenue assurance for the NESI. The 2018 Meter Asset Provider Regulations issued by NERC will relieve the DisCos of the burden of providing metering services and enable them to give more focus on their core responsibility of power distribution. Also, Nigerian-owned meter manufacturing companies and meter assembling plants can expect to a have greater participation in the metering industry as MAPs are required to obtain at least 30 percent of their meters from local sources. Finally, this will lead to additional foreign direct investment into the country, while also ensuring transfer of technology to Nigeria. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://www.thecable.ng/discos-supply-79850-meters-in-2018-not-enough-for-4-6m-households-in-need-of-one [2] https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/06/bill-to-criminalise-estimated-billing-system-by-discos-introduced-in-house/ [3] https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/dont-pay-electricity-bills-youre-not-metered-fg/

Abuja, Nigeria. May 1st, 2019 – International Workers’ Day (also known as Labour Day or May Day) is observed on 1st May every year. It is celebrated across the world to promote and encourage the international labour associations, while honouring the struggles of the working class and efforts of labour unions. The theme for this year’s Workers’ Day is “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement”. In commemoration of this year’s Workers’ Day, NOIPolls presents a 4-year average (2016-2019) on public opinion polls on issues facing Nigerians. Findings revealed that employment remains among the top three areas Nigerians expected the government to focus its attention on over the period in view: Security (29 percent), Employment (28 percent) and the economy (21 percent). Although the issue of unemployment is second on the list, this area has been one of the greatest challenges crippling the Nigerian economy as it has maintained an upward trend within the years in view. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate in the country increased from 22.70 percent in the 2nd quarter of 2018 to 23.10 percent in the 3rdquarter of 2018. In view of the Workers’ Day celebration, the onus is on the government and other stakeholders to create jobs for Nigerians especially through creating an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive. This will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians explore various opportunities in tackling the issue of unemployment. Also, it is vital to reflect on workers’ welfare specifically on the issue of minimum wage as it plays an important role in income distribution as well as poverty rate. Although the minimum wage in Nigeria has recently been increased from ₦18,000 to ₦30,000, this amount may be negligible in raising the standard of living of the beneficiaries considering the economic situation of the country. For instance, a public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls on workers’ welfare in 2011 revealed that Nigerians believed that the minimum wage of ₦18,000 was inadequate, hence they clamoured for an upward review to ₦56,000 as at 2011. Again, while the Federal Government has signed the new minimum wage of ₦30,000 into law, it is important for an urgent implementation process. In summary, as Nigerians join the world in celebrating Workers’ day, it is pertinent for government to address issues pertaining to job creation and the welfare of Nigerian workers. Job creation challenge in Nigeria can be effectively tackled through a strict adherence to and execution of the different strategies and policy framework that have been put in place to move the employment drive in the country forward. Some of these strategies and policy documents include the National Employment Policy (NEP) of 2002, the national action Plan on Employment Creation (NAPEC), National Youth Policy (NYP) of 2009 as well as the National Policy on Education (NPE) Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com

Abuja, Nigeria. April 25th, 2019 – The World Malaria Day is commemorated on April 25th each year. This annual event is a worldwide effort which is aimed at raising awareness for malaria and funds for the treatment and prevention of malaria. The day also highlights the need for better political intervention in malaria control and prevention as well as marking the continuation of great achievements in the fight against malaria worldwide. The theme for the 2019 World Malaria Day is “End Malaria for Good” and the day is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the most recent World Malaria Report 2018, the global tally of malaria reached 435,000 malaria deaths and an estimated 219 million new cases in 2017.[1] Therefore, WHO is calling on malaria-affected countries, partners and donors to boost investments and efforts to reduce the disease burden through coordinated efforts. This will help to strengthen national capacities and ownership as well as funding for scaling up preventive interventions to ensure universal coverage of all at-risk populations.[2] Maintaining a healthy populace is crucial to contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP). Unfortunately, Nigeria bears the burden of debilitating diseases like malaria, polio, HIV/AIDS, typhoid, etc. For example, Nigeria suffers the world’s greatest malaria burden with approximately 51 million cases and over 200,000 deaths reported annually. With about a third of the population getting ill from malaria only in the span of 12 months, the negative impact this has on productivity and development cannot be taken for granted. In commemoration of the World Malaria Day, NOIPolls presents excerpts from its National Survey which was conducted in 2017. The National Survey assessed the opinions of Nigerians on their health status and most prevalent health challenge facing Nigerians. The survey revealed Malaria as the most prevalent health challenge facing Nigerians by a significant proportion of 81 percent. The findings also showed that as many as 69 percent of the population had been diagnosed with malaria at least once (or more) in the past 12 months; with 63 percent accessing malaria tablets, 30 percent taking injections, and 6 percent making use of native medicine to treat the ailment. The chart below showed that Malaria accounts for 81 percent of all visits to healthcare providers. Remotely next to malaria are cough (4percent), cholera (3percent) and diarrhoea (2percent) respectively. The preponderance of malaria as illustrated in the figure above warrants further probing. Malaria is the leading cause of death in Nigeria with over 300,000 deaths per year which is more than other deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Over the past 12 months, only 31 percent of respondents reported being free from malaria diagnosis; 48 percent reported one or two episodes, while 16 percent reported three or more episodes. Compared to male respondents, female respondents reported higher rates of malaria diagnosis during the period based on lower percentages reporting no episode (female – 28 percent; male – 34 percent) and higher percentage reporting one or two episodes (female – 52 percent; male – 45 percent). Malaria diagnosis also decreases by age, with malaria-free proportion rising from 29 percent (age 18-35) to 32 percent (age 36-60) and 34 percent (above 60), and the proportion that experienced one or two episodes decreased from 49 percent (age 18-35), 48 percent (age 36-60) to 40 percent (above 60 years). However, the percentage experiencing three or more episodes decreased from 16 percent (age 18-35) to 14 percent (age 36-60) but increased significantly to 21 percent (above 60 years). Across geopolitical zones, malaria diagnosis rates are lower in the North as the percentage diagnosis-free is higher in the North (31 percent) compared to the South (28 percent). However, the percentage with one or two diagnoses is slightly higher in the North (50 percent versus 49 percent) and the percentage with three or more diagnosis is also slightly higher (16 percent versus 15 percent). The reporting of malaria diagnosis is also slightly higher in rural areas (66 percent) compared to urban areas (63 percent). On average, 93 percent of malaria episodes are treated with modern medicine (63 percent with tablets and 30 percent with injections). Of the remainder, 6 percent are treated with native treatment while the remaining 1 percent cases are untreated. There is no significant difference by gender in the propensity to use modern medicine (male – 92 percent; female – 93 percent), neither are there significant differences by age (age 18-35 – 93 percent; age 36-60 – 92 percent; above 60 – 92 percent). There are slight variations across geopolitical zones in the use of modern medicine for treating malaria. While tablets are more likely used to treat malaria in the South (South – 72 percent; North – 58 percent), injections are preferred in the North (South –20 percent; North – 35 percent). The substitutionary relationship is also observed in urban and rural areas; while tablets are more likely used to treat malaria in urban areas (urban – 66 percent; Rural – 57 percent), injections are preferred in the rural areas (Urban –28 percent; Rural – 33 percent). In conclusion, the survey revealed an urgent need for interventions in the Nigerian health system to reduce the incidence of malaria as the burden of malaria remains quite high in the population. This raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of malaria interventions and suggests need for more to be done in its prevention; as it is being advocated by the WHO considering the commemoration of World Malaria Day coming up on the 25th of April, 2019. 81 percent of respondents reported malaria as the most important health challenge they face while 31 percent had no cases of malaria. This is a classic example of self-diagnosis without seeking laboratory confirmation. This is worrisome because most haemorrhagic illnesses such as Lassa Fever and Ebola mimic symptoms of malaria. Therefore, communities may be at risk of infectious diseases when individuals think they have malaria without laboratory diagnosis. Clients at hospitals are advised to always request for laboratory tests to confirm malaria even when health workers want to treat without testing. The Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) helps in this regard. Finally, even though concerted efforts have been made towards the control of malaria, its elimination has continued to be a mirage. However, the future still holds considerable promise with new dimensions being explored which include increased research funding especially towards vaccine development, policy formulation and implementation based on evidence, increased public health and environmental education, incorporation of the communities in activities towards malaria control as well as stepping up of ongoing control programmes and possibly integrating them into primary health care activities. Malaria control in Nigeria and indeed other endemic countries will cease to be a mirage and become a reality with a little more strategic and prioritized effort. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com [1] https://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-2018/en/ [2] https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/events/world-malaria-day

Abuja, Nigeria. March 19th, 2019-The United Nations (UN) World Happiness Day is a day observed and recognized annually on the 20th of March. The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Happiness as a way of recognising the essence and importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world; which seem to elude a large number of persons living in world today due to the seeming hardship experienced by people.  In a bid to promote overall Happiness of people around the world and to ensure the general well-being of individuals, the United Nations came up with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which seek to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet which are major factors that lead to well-being and happiness. The theme for 2019 world happiness day is: “[1]Happier together, focusing on what we have in common, rather than what divides us”. This seek to accentuate the fact that everyone wants to be happy and people are happier when persons are together and it also seek to emphasise on what brings people together as humans rather than on what divide us. In commemoration of the world happiness day 2019, NOIPolls reflects on findings from its Personal Wellbeing Index – PWBI Q4 2018, which highlighted the level of satisfaction of Nigerians on various aspects of their lives. Overall there was a marginal decline in the PWBI of Nigerians to stand at 61.5-points from 62.89-points in Q3 of 2018. Nevertheless, it is worthy of note that amidst the low satisfaction of Nigerians on their economic situation and standard of living, some of the key factors which are pivotal in determining the level of happiness continue to remain above average as revealed by the poll. These key components include Religion (88.37-points), Social Interaction (75.9-points), Physical Health (73.5-points) and Personal security (57.9-points). Thus, Nigerians have continued to be happy people despite the seeming economic, security and other social challenges they experience on a day to day basis. Furthermore, social interaction which provides an overall feeling of connectivity to society is one of the indices that Nigerians keep averaging high points in the PWBI findings. This contributes to the happiness of Nigerians alongside their personal health; without which isolation, decreased self-esteem and shorter lifespan may be prevalent. The findings on PWBI can be further corroborated by the World happiness index which ranks Nigeria 91 in 2018 moving four steps up from the previous ranking of 95 in 2017, in their global happiness ranking. [2] The global body uses factors like GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption in order to rank countries. Finally, happiness is critical for optimum performance of individual in every walk of life. Thus, to further improve the wellbeing of Nigerians which then translates to happiness, it is pertinent for the government to focus its efforts in providing basic amenities like road, power, hospitals etc which is evidently lacking in the Nigerian societies. This can then translate into overall economic and political gains for the country as well as an improved PWBI of Nigerians. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com

Abuja, Nigeria. March 12th, 2019 – International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed each year on 8th March and it is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements ranging from the politics to social, while calling for gender equality in the world. NOIPolls joined the rest of world in celebrating the 2019 International Women’s Day which to recognize women who have succeeded in various leadership positions and have made extraordinary achievements in the nation’s building as well as impacting lives internationally. The theme for the 2019 IWD was “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. The theme focused on innovative ways in which gender equality can be advanced and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.[1] In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, NOIPolls reflects on some critical findings from its past poll on gender equality which gauged general perception of Nigerians about gender inequality especially in political representation. The poll which was conducted in March 2018 revealed that 91 percent of adult Nigerians admitted that there is a huge gap in gender equality especially in political representation in Nigeria, mainly due to cultural norms and religious beliefs (29 percent). It is very curial to re-emphasis that certain historic values shaped by societies, passed on from generations have over the years spelt out specific expectations from women in terms of attributes and behaviours such as the creation of gender specific roles. This has led to the labelling of some jobs and/or roles as ‘women’s work’ and ‘men’s work’ both in the household and in the wider community such as in workplaces, as well as in leadership, governance and politics. Further findings from the poll revealed that most Nigerians (85 percent) acknowledged that women make great leaders and this affirmation cuts across gender, geo-political zones and age-groups. The chart below showed that the North-east (97 percent) and the North-west (95 percent) zones accounted for the largest proportion of Nigerians who believe there is gender inequality in the country. On the contrary, South-east (25 percent) accounted for the zone with the highest proportion of Nigerians who claim that there is equality in Nigeria. More findings from the poll revealed that majority of adult Nigerians (29 percent) who claimed that there is gender inequality affirmed that cultural norms and religious beliefs are the main causes of gender inequality. Also, 17 percent of the respondents stated that gender inequality is obvious in Nigeria because women are perceived to be weak and lacks the capacity to lead amongst other reasons. On the other hand, respondents who were of the opinion that there is gender equality gave reasons for their assertion and most of these respondents (37 percent) stated that there is gender equality because there are lots of women in politics in Nigeria. While 25 percent mentioned that women have equal constitutional right to contest political positions, 16 percent stated that representation is by merit and not by gender. In conclusion, the poll results revealed that there is a significant gap in gender equality in Nigeria as stated by 91 percent of the respondents across gender, age-groups and geo-political zones majorly due to cultural norms and religious beliefs (29 percent). Considering the assertions made by Nigerians, it therefore calls for an urgent action to be taken in order to attain more women representation in the political sphere in Nigeria. For instance, the National Assembly should consider passing the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill (GEOB) as this will greatly balance the gender gap currently existing in the Nigerian political sphere. Disclaimer This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking. Press Contact The Editor Email: editor@noi-polls.com