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Proportion of Nigerians who have considered leaving the country News release A majority of Nigerians have considered leaving the country, usually in search of better economic opportunities, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. The proportion of citizens who have given emigration “a lot” of thought has tripled since 2017. The most common reasons among potential emigrants are the search for work opportunities and the wish to overcome economic hardship. Highly educated, unemployed, urban, and young citizens are most likely to consider emigration. Their most popular destinations are North America, Europe, and the Middle East. As the world observes International Migrants Day, Nigeria and other African countries contend with “brain drain,” high-risk irregular migration, and other emigration-related challenges. Key findings More than half (56%) of Nigerians say they have considered leaving Nigeria, a 20- percentage-point increase compared to 2017 (36%) (Figure 1). The share who say they have given “a lot” of thought to the idea has tripled, from 11% to 33%. Thoughts of emigrating are particularly common among the most educated citizens (71% of those with post-secondary qualifications), urban residents (63%), and youth (60% of 18- to 35-year-olds) (Figure 2). Two-thirds (66%) of citizens who are unemployed and looking for work say they have thought about leaving Nigeria, while many full-time (58%) and part-time workers (56%) have also considered emigration. The most common reasons cited for potential emigration are finding work opportunities (42%) and escaping economic hardship or poverty (39%) (Figure 3). The most popular destinations among potential emigrants are North America (38%) and Europe (28%) (Figure 4). Afrobarometer surveys Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 were launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed a nationally representative, random, stratified probability sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians between 19 June and 17 July 2024. 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 standard surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022. Charts Figure 1: Considered emigrating | Nigeria | 2017-2024 Nigerians willingness to emigrate Respondents were asked: How much, if at all, have you considered moving to another country to live? Figure 2: Considered emigrating | by demographic group | Nigeria | 2024 Demographic Representation Respondents were asked: How much, if at all, have you considered moving to another country to live? (% who say “a little bit,” “somewhat,” or “a lot”) Due to rounding, percentages for combined categories reported in the text may differ slightly from the sum of sub-categories shown in figures (e.g. 33% “a lot,” 10% “somewhat,” and 12% “a little bit” sum to 56%). Figure 3: Main reason to consider emigration | Nigeria | 2024 Reasons for Emigration Respondents who say they have considered emigrating were asked: What is the most important reason why you would consider moving from Nigeria? (Respondents who say they have not considered emigrating are excluded.) Figure 4: Preferred destination for emigration | Nigeria | 2024 Destination Preference Respondents who say they have considered emigrating were asked: If you were to move to another country, where would you be most likely to go? (Respondents who say they have not considered emigrating are excluded.) For more information, please contact: NOIPolls Raphael Mbaegbu Telephone: +234 63292096 Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com Visit us online at: www.afrobarometer.org www.noi-polls.com Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica. Social Media Handles

Infograph showing key areas Nigerians want the government to prioritize in 2025 Abuja, Nigeria – January 6th, 2025  – A new public opinion poll released by NOIPolls has revealed that the top three key areas Nigerians want the government to focus its attention on in 2025 include Agriculture (53 percent), Better economic policies (42 percent) and Security (35 percent). An emphasis on Agriculture is expected given the global food crisis and the food inflation in Nigeria in recent years. Ensuring food security for the country’s increasing population is critical to sustainable development. Other areas Nigerians want the government to focus on to resolve the challenges include reducing fuel prices (26 percent), infrastructural development (21 percent), electricity supply (20 percent), as well as empowerment and job creation (16 percent). Also mentioned are education (10 percent), economy/cost of living (9 percent), and health care (7 percent) amongst others.   The agricultural sector has continued to be the bedrock and mainstay of Nigeria’s economy contributing 23.69 percent of her GDP in 2022 [1] . It approximately employs 30 percent of the country’s workforce and contributes immensely to the food production of the country [2] . It also contributes significantly to raw material production for industries in the country. With the recent allocation of N132bn by the Federal Government as disclosed in the 2025 Appropriation Bill to support farmers and farming activities in 2025, Nigerians might have some relief in the new year.   As regards economic policies, the removal of fuel subsidies alone in the country resulted in a myriad of economic backlashes in the country, chief of which is the high inflation rate which stood at 34.6 percent, the highest in the last 28 years according to the National Bureau of Statistics [3] . The heightened inflation resulted in prices of food items and other everyday commodities skyrocketing almost beyond the reach of the common man. According to the NBS, food inflation stood at 39.9 percent, the highest in recent memory, resulting in 2 out of every 3 families going hungry every day [4] .   The last decade witnessed the increasing emergence of insurgencies and criminal groups whose activities transcend regional borders. This gives credence to Nigerians' security concerns.  According to the National Bureau of Statistics, between May 2023 and April 2024, over 614,000 people lost their lives due to insecurity in Nigeria with the North-West region being the worst hit with over 200,000 deaths [5] and a whooping sum of over 2.2 trillion naira paid in Ransom within the same period under review [6] . Hence the government should intensify its efforts in securing the Nigerian state and Nigerians as no nation can achieve significant development amidst insecurity and terrorism.   With regards to the aforementioned areas of priority, it is expedient that the Nigerian government expedite actions to holistically address the concerns of Nigerians so that Nigerians will experience a sigh of relief and a new lease of life in the new year. These are some highlights from the New Year Poll  conducted in the week commencing December 16th, 2024 .   Survey Background People from all walks of life look forward to the emergence of the New Year with nostalgia and euphoria amidst gratefulness for how the out-going year pan out and with optimism that the New Year will bring greater fortune and astounding success.  Many see it as a time of reflection, reminiscence, and readjustments of their life’s objectives to make amends where necessary and consolidate on areas they achieved success.   Most people observe the New Year holiday as an opportunity for festivities and reconnecting with friends and family for bonding. However, the New Year is not just about celebrations but also a time to reflect, plan, and start the journey toward achieving dreams. It is also a period to unite people with a shared sense of hope and happiness for the year ahead [7] . It inspires individuals to plan personal or professional goals, leave behind negativity, and embrace positivity, gratitude, and kindness, a panacea for greater success. Nigerians are celebrating the New Year with hope and optimism that the New Year will bring good tidings to them seeing the outgone year was economically challenging due to high inflation occasioned by increased fuel prices. Will there be a reduction in the inflation figures? Will there be better economic prospects in the New Year? Will prices of items reduce in the coming year and will Nigerians heave a sigh of relief as the year unfolds? These and many more will be the questions running through the minds of Nigerians. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls surveyed to find out the views of Nigerians regarding their expectations for the New Year and hereby presents its findings. Survey Findings Nigerians were asked the top three areas they want the government to focus its attention on in 2025 and the poll revealed that the three top include Agriculture (53 percent), Better economic policies (42 percent), and Security (35 percent). Other areas Nigerians want the government to prioritize include reducing fuel prices (26 percent), infrastructure development (21 percent), electricity supply (20 percent), empowerment/job creation (16 percent), education (10 percent), economy/cost of living (9 percent), health care (7 percent), bilateral relation (3 percent), exchange rate (2 percent) while 7 percent stated they preferred not to say.      Expectations of the Government for 2025 Conclusion From the survey, Nigerians stated what they want the government to pay attention to as the year unfolds: Agriculture, better economic policies, and security. These areas stand to bring a new lease of life to Nigerians if given the utmost attention necessary. For instance, the agricultural sector has the propensity to revamp the country’s ailing and oil-dependent economy to a more vibrant and robust one which can bring in the much-needed foreign exchange while creating jobs for the teeming populace in dire need of a source of livelihood. Concentrating on these highlighted areas will bring needed socio-economic transformation for Nigerians for a better and more prosperous 2025.   Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing December 16th, 2024. 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 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, 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 public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as authors 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 facts, or any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken because of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions, or views herein constitute a judgment as of 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                   nohuche@noi-polls.com Number: +234 (0) 813 547 4512                  +234 (0) 813 749 6113 [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/382311/nigeria-gdp-distribution-across-economic sectors/#:~:text=Distribution%20of%20gross%20domestic%20product%20(GDP)%20across%20economic%20sectors%20Nigeria%202022&text=In%202022%2C%20agriculture%20contributed%20around,percent%20from%20the%20services%20sector. [2]   Importance of Agriculture in Nigeria » PIECE — WITHIN NIGERIA [3]   “No More N80k/50kg”: Sellers Quote Rice at New Price as Cost Jollof Doubles in 2024 - Legit.ng [4]   “No More N80k/50kg”: Sellers Quote Rice at New Price as Cost Jollof Doubles in 2024 - Legit.ng [5]  with the North West region the worst hit with over 200,000 death [6] https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1631221-kidnappings-cost-nigerians-n223-trillion-year-nbs-says/ [7] https://www.vedantu.com/english/new-year-essay

Summary Faith and religion are central to Nigerian life. In its 2015 survey, Afrobarometer found that more than 70% of Nigerians said they practiced their religion at least several times a week. Christianity (50%) and Islam (48%) are the most widely practiced faiths in the country (U.S. Department of State, 2022). Although the Nigerian Constitution protects citizens’ right to freedom of religion or belief, critics say violations by state and non-state actors are common, including the imposition of shari’a law on non-Muslims, abductions and executions of citizens based on their religious affiliation, and discrimination against religious minorities (such as Muslims living in predominantly Christian areas and vice versa (Williams, 2022). Often citizens rely on religious leaders, rather than secular authorities, to address these issues by serving as peace ambassadors and mediators (Punch, 2023, 2024). Because they lead large congregations in mosques and churches, they can potentially shape the attitudes, opinions, and behaviours of millions of Nigerians. Given the importance of religion and religious leaders in Nigerian society, this dispatch provides a snapshot of how different groups in society view religious leaders and how tolerant citizens are toward people of different religious backgrounds. Survey findings reveal that religious leaders are more widely trusted and less widely seen as corrupt than key public institutions. But trust varies significantly by citizens’ religion, education level, and location. While tolerance toward people from other religious backgrounds is high, trust in them is lower. About one in 10 Nigerians say members of their religion are “often” or “always” treated unfairly by the government. But large majorities say that there is more that unites Nigerians than divides them and that communities are made stronger by diversity. 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. Nine rounds of surveys have been completed in up to 42 countries since 1999. Round 9 surveys (2021/2023) cover 39 countries. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed a nationally representative, random, stratified probability sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians in March 2022. 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 standard surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2020 Key findings ▪ Six in 10 Nigerians (60%) say they trust religious leaders “somewhat” or “a lot,” compared to 27% who say the same about their president and 19% who trust Parliament. o Trust levels are highest among citizens with no formal education (82%), Muslims (77%), and rural residents (67%). ▪ One-fourth (26%) of citizens think that “most” or “all” religious leaders are corrupt. ▪ Tolerance toward other religions is high: More than eight in 10 respondents (83%) say they would “strongly like,” would “somewhat like,” or “would not care” if they lived next door to people of a different religion. ▪ But trust across religious groups is significantly lower: Only half (51%) of respondents say they trust members of other faiths “somewhat” or “a lot.” o And such trust differs enormously according to religion: Seven in 10 Muslims (70%) say they trust non-Muslims, compared to just 37% of Christians who trust practitioners of other religions. ▪ About one in 10 Nigerians (11%) say members of their religion are “often” or “always” treated unfairly by the government, in addition to 23% who report that this happens “sometimes.” ▪ Almost two-thirds (63%) of Nigerians say that freedom of religion should be absolute, barring the government from intervening in religious practices. One-third (34%) think the government should have the power to regulate what is said in places of worship. ▪ More than six in 10 citizens (62%) believe that in spite of ethnic, religious, cultural, and political differences, there is more that unites Nigerians than there is that divides them. ▪ Large majorities of both Muslims (77%) and Christians (68%) say that communities are stronger when they are made up of people from different ethnic groups, races, or religions Trust in religious leaders Trust in public officials and community leaders is important as they are often called upon to make contested decisions or provide guidance to citizens (e.g. in the implementation of new laws or the enforcement of existing ones) (Daily Trust, 2023). Afrobarometer survey findings allow us to gauge Nigerians’ views of religious leaders in comparison to other community leaders and public institutions. The data show that six in 10 citizens (60%) say they trust religious leaders “somewhat” or “a lot” – more than twice as many as express trust in the president (27%), and three times the trust level enjoyed by the National Assembly (19%) (Figure 1). At 50%, traditional leaders also far outrank most formal government institutions. The perceived trustworthiness of religious leaders has remained remarkably stable in recent years (Figure 2), despite increasing political involvement of churches (Abati, 2022). Figure 1: Popular trust in key public institutions and leaders | Nigeria | 2022 Trust in Public Institutions and Leaders Respondents were asked: How much do you trust each of the following, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? (% who say “somewhat” or “a lot”) Figure 2: Popular trust in religious leaders | Nigeria | 2015-2022 Trust in Religious Leaders Respondents were asked: How much do you trust each of the following, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say: Religious leaders? (% who say “somewhat” or “a lot”) However, citizens are not uniform in their trust in religious leaders. Adults with no formal education are far more likely to report trust than those with secondary or post-secondary education (82% vs. 50%-57%) (Figure 3). Rural residents (67%) are also more likely to trust religious leaders than urbanites (51%), whereas men and women are equally likely to be trusting. It is an interesting question whether faith plays a role in shaping Nigerians’ trust in religious leaders. The data show that Muslims (77%) are 30 percentage points more likely to trust religious leaders than Christians (47%). One factor that may contribute to this difference is that in Nigeria many Islamic leaders double as traditional leaders. For example, the supreme leader of Muslims in Nigeria is the Sultan of Sokoto, who also serves as the paramount ruler of northern Nigeria, the region with the largest Muslim population in the country (This Day, 2024). These leaders share many socio-cultural practices and norms with their followers, and in times of crises, they play pivotal roles in conflict resolution and the promotion of social cohesion. Figure 3: Trust in religious leaders | by demographic group | Nigeria | 2022 Demographic Representation Respondents were asked: How much do you trust each of the following, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? Religious leaders? (% who say “somewhat” or “a lot”) Perceived corruption among religious leaders Public trust in institutions and leaders depends in part on their perceived integrity, as the perception of widespread corruption tends to erode people’s trust (Armah-Attoh, GyimahBoadi, & Chikwanha, 2007). Despite government anti-corruption efforts through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other agencies and laws, official corruption remains a critical issue for Nigeria (Obadare, 2022). About one in four Nigerians (26%) think that “most” or “all” religious leaders are corrupt, up from 20% in 2017 but a 4-percentage-point improvement compared to 2020 (Figure 4). Religious leaders are somewhat less widely seen as corrupt than traditional leaders (30%) and fare far better in citizens’ assessments than officials in the Presidency (59%), members of Parliament (64%), and the police (73%). Figure 4: Perceptions of widespread corruption among public leaders | Nigeria | 2017-202 Perceived corruption amongst Public Leaders 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? (% who say “most of them” or “all of them”) People of other religions: Tolerance and trust Every 16th November, the United Nations celebrates International Day for Tolerance, an occasion to remind the world of the dangers of intolerance. The Afrobarometer survey assesses a country’s religious tolerance by asking respondents whether they would like having people of a different religion as neighbors'. Most Nigerians express tolerant attitudes for people from different religious backgrounds: More than four-fifths (83%) say they would “strongly like,” would “somewhat like,” or “would not care” if their neighbours worshipped differently than they do themselves (Figure 5). Despite a slight dip in 2020, the share of tolerant citizens has remained at three-quarters of the population or more since 2015. But trust levels are much lower than tolerance levels: Only half (51%) of citizens say they trust people from different religious backgrounds “somewhat” or “a lot” (Figure 6). Breaking down this finding by the two major religions shows that Muslims are almost twice as likely as Christians to express trust in people of other religions (70% vs. 37%). Trust across religious divides is also more prominent among people with no formal education (69%) than their more educated compatriots (45%-57%). Rural residents (54%) and men (55%) are also slightly more trusting than urbanites (49%) and women (49%). Figure 5: Tolerance of other religions | Nigeria | 2015-2022 Tolerance for Religion Respondents were asked: For each of the following types of people, please tell me whether you would like having people from this group as neighbors, dislike it, or not care: People of a different religion? (% who say “strongly like,” “somewhat like,” or “would not care”) Figure 6: Trust in people of other religions | by demographic group | Nigeria | 2022 Demographic Representation Respondents were asked: How much do you trust each of the following types of people: People from other religions? (% who say “somewhat” or “a lot”) Unfair treatment based on religion In its 2020 survey in Nigeria, Afrobarometer asked respondents how often, if ever, members of their religious group are treated unfairly by the government. Findings show that about one in 10 Nigerians (11%) say this happens “often” or “always,” in addition to 23% who report that it occurs “sometimes” (Figure 7). A majority (62%) say the government “never” treats members of their faith unfairly. Christians (17%) are about three times as likely as Muslims (5%) to say that members of their religion “often” or “always” face unfair treatment at the hands of the government. Figure 7: Religious group treated unfairly by the government | Nigeria | 2020 Governments treatment to Religious groups Respondents were asked: How often, if ever, are [members of respondent’s religious group] treated unfairly by the government? Going beyond respondents’ experiences, the data also provide insights into citizens’ views on the extent of government regulation at places of worship. Across two survey rounds in 2017 and 2020, about six in 10 respondents say that freedom of religion and worship are absolute and that the government should never limit what is said in a place of worship (Figure 8). Most recently, one-third (34%) of Nigerians “agree” or “strongly agree” that the government should have the power to regulate what is said in places of worship, especially if preachers or congregants threaten public security. Figure 8: Is religious freedom absolute? | Nigeria | 2017-2020 Religion & Absolute Freedom Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view? Statement 1: Freedom of religion and worship are absolute, meaning that government should never limit what is said in a place of worship. Statement 2: Government should have the power to regulate what is said in places of worship, especially if preachers or congregants threaten public security. (% who “agree” or “strongly agree” with each statement) United in diversity? Considering Christians’ and Muslims’ trust in their leaders, as well as their levels of tolerance vis-à-vis each other, what are the prospects for a diverse country like Nigeria to increase tolerance and respect across different groups? More than six in 10 Nigerians (62%) believe that in spite of their diversity and differences, there is more that unites people in the country than there is that divides them (Figure 9). However, education, religion, and material welfare are associated with very different evaluations of this question. Nigerians with primary schooling or less are far more likely than more educated citizens to say that there is more that unites Nigerians (73%-75% vs. 54%-56%). More than three-fourths (77%) of Muslims believe in a united Nigeria, compared to fewer than half (47%) of Christians. Among the poorest citizens, 1 too, fewer than half (48%) believe in a connected country, as against significant majorities of better-off citizens (61%-71%). In line with majority perceptions of unity over division, Nigerians express strong support for a pluralistic society: Almost three-fourths (73%) consider communities to be stronger when they are made up of people from different ethnic groups, races, or religions (Figure 10). Figure 9: More that unites Nigerians than divides them | Nigeria | 2020 Perception on what unites Nigerians Respondents were asked: Overall, would you say that there is more that unites all Nigerians as one people, or more that divides them? (% who say “somewhat more” or “much more” that unites) Figure 10: Are diverse communities stronger? | Nigeria | 2020 Perception on Community Diversity Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view? Statement 1: Communities are stronger when they are made up of people from different ethnic groups, races, or religions. Statement 2: Communities are stronger when they are made up of people who are similar to each other, that is, people from the same ethnic group, race, or religion. (% who “agree” or “strongly agree” with each statement) Conclusion Afrobarometer survey findings show that Nigerians hold religious leaders in high regard, trusting them more and seeing them as less corrupt than elected leaders and government officials. Adherents of Christianity and Islam, the country’s two dominant faiths, display major differences in their attitudes on various issues related to religion. Compared to Muslims, Christians are significantly less trusting of religious leaders and of people of different religious backgrounds, more likely to indicate that members of their religion are treated unfairly by the government, and less likely to think that there is more that unites Nigerians than divides them. But Nigerians generally value having a diverse society, and tolerant attitudes toward other religions are the norm. A clear majority of citizens favour absolute freedom of religion and worship, though a substantial minority say government regulation of what is said in places of worship is sometimes necessary, especially if religious leaders or congregants threaten public safety. Most citizens say that there is more that unites Nigerians than divides them and that communities are made stronger by diversity. These findings suggest a solid basis for vigorous engagement by government actors, religious leaders, and other civil society activists to build national cohesion by advancing religious freedom and tolerance. References Abati, R. (2022). Politics and the church in Nigeria. Premium Times. 15 March. Ahmad, M. (2014). The role of religious leaders in the modern world. Centre for Islam and Public Policy. 27 February. Armah-Attoh, D., Gyimah-Boadi, E., & Chikwanha, A. B. (2007). Corruption and institutional trust in Africa: Implications for democratic development. Afrobarometer Working Paper No. 81. Daily Trust. (2023). Religious leaders and fostering national security. 13 September. Mattes, R., & Patel, J. (2022). Lived poverty resurgent. Afrobarometer Policy Paper No. 84. Obadare, E. (2022). Nigeria’s all too familiar corruption ranking begs broader questions around normative collapse. Council on Foreign Relations. 24 February. Punch. (2023). Peaceful coexistence possible in Nigeria, say CAN, Sultan, others. 23 September. Punch. (2024). #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Protesters invite religious leaders for talks. 3 August. This Day. (2024). Sokoto state government and the Sultan. 11 November. U.S. Department of State. (2022). 2022 report on international religious freedom: Nigeria. Williams, D. U. (2022). State and non-state violations of religious freedom and implications for national unity in Nigeria. Canopy Forum Social Handles

NOIPolls collaborated with key stakeholders at the Frequency Assessment and Health Systems Tools for Resilience (FAST-R) kick-off workshop focused on improving routine data availability, analytics and driving impactful data usage at the Primary Health Care level to enhance RMNCAH-N outcomes. The workshop held 9th – 11th December 2024, in Keffi, Nasarawa State was organized by The Global Financing Facility (GFF) and Results for Development (R4D) with the oversight of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria and Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics. NOIPolls CEO, Dr Chike Nwangwu, addresses the gathering at the kick-off workshop in Keffi Key Highlights: ✅ Frequent Assessment and Health Systems Tools for Resilience (FASTR) Approach Reintroduced: A cutting-edge design leveraging Health Management Information Systems and Facility Survey data to routinely monitor health service coverage, address data quality gaps, and improve Primary Health Care delivery during reforms or shocks. ✅Facility Surveys: NOIPolls led sessions to guide participants through tools and processes, ensuring readiness to assess and address gaps in service delivery. The workshop brought together significant partners to Dr. Kamil Shoretire (Director DHPRS) Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Ashley Sheffel (The Global Financing Facility (GFF), Joshua Elaigwu (Results for Development) Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Nigeria Center for Disease Control among others, all contributing to: 📊 Reviewing data tools and processes 🔍 Connecting analysis results to routine activities 📞 Finalizing health facility survey readiness tools 🎯 Developing action plans for ongoing data use and support Together with The Global Financing Facility (GFF) , Results for Development and under the oversight of the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria (DPRS), we will be piloting these initiatives across Nigeria to emphasize timely, data-driven interventions for tailored solutions that transform Primary Health Care services nationwide. Let’s continue to innovate and transform health systems! 🌍✨

Infograph for Health Insurance Poll Abuja, Nigeria. 26th November 2024 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that only a handful of adult Nigerians (19 percent) are covered by health insurance policies in the country. Unfortunately, most adult Nigerians (79 percent) are not covered by the scheme as they pay out of pocket for healthcare. This corroborates Dataphyte’s publication of December 24, 2021, which reports that Health insurance has barely scratched the surface in Nigeria with regards to percentage coverage of the population as 97% of Nigeria’s population is not covered by any health insurance; the alternative to health insurance is huge out-of-pocket spending on health, and in 2018, Nigeria ranked the third highest country with the highest out-of-pocket health spending. 76.6% of health spending in the country was out-of-pocket. The poll further revealed that a large proportion of Nigerians (86 percent) visit the hospital when ill with public hospitals (67 percent) being the most accessed facilities, while 32 percent of Nigerians use private hospitals. Furthermore, a percentage slightly above average (55 percent) disclosed that they are aware of the National Health Insurance Scheme while 32 percent revealed they are not aware of the scheme. While most adult Nigerians (72 percent) use the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), 26 percent are covered by private Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). With regards to service delivery, 69 percent of adult Nigerians disclosed they are satisfied with the service provided by the health insurance provider, and 31 percent revealed their dissatisfaction citing complaints bothering “the services they provide” (29 percent), “they don't usually have drugs available” (26 percent), “poor service rendered” (25 percent), “low quality drugs” (14 percent), as well as “the amount they charge” (14 percent). On the flip side, amongst Nigerians who do not visit the hospital when ill, 31 percent go to the pharmacy, 24 percent resort to self-medication, 22 percent go to a chemist, 12 percent go to traditional doctors, 5 percent call family doctors, while 4 percent pray or do nothing. Interestingly, 2 percent disclosed that they do not fall sick. With regards to recommendations on how the Federal government can improve the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), several suggestions were offered with the provision of good quality drugs (34 percent) as top mentioned. This is followed by “render good service” (15 percent), “attend to people on time” (11 percent), “proper monitoring by the government” (10 percent), and “reduction of charges” (7 percent). Interestingly, 59 percent of Nigerians interviewed expressed their willingness to pay a small amount to get enrolled into the health insurance scheme when asked if they would be willing to pay monthly or yearly for health insurance to access care when ill. These are some of the key findings from the Health Insurance Poll conducted in the week commencing 15th of January 2024. Background Health Insurance is a scheme that protects your health and gives you access to quality healthcare services for free. It covers your medical expenses for an agreed period while you pay monthly or annual premiums as a commitment. It is one of the mechanisms for providing financial protection from the costs of using healthcare services. This is a key pillar of universal healthcare. The protection it affords is extremely important as research from the World Bank and the WHO showed that 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty on an annual basis due to healthcare expenses. While health insurance has been operational in Nigeria for over 15 years, the uptake has remained low. As of 2016, only 3% of healthcare expenditure in Nigeria was paid for using health insurance. According to the leadership of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the scheme covers less than 5% of Nigerians. The enrolee population in the scheme is largely made up of Federal Government employees and their dependents. To bridge the coverage gap, The Nigerian government signed into law the new National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) 2022 on 19 May 2022. The NHIA replaced the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 1999, which failed to enroll more than 10% of the population. The NHIA seeks to promote, regulate, and integrate health insurance schemes. It aims to secure mandatory health insurance for every Nigerian and legal resident and establishes a fund for the vulnerable groups, which will provide ‘subsidy for health insurance coverage for vulnerable persons and payment of health insurance premiums for indigents. The inclusion of vulnerable groups will increase health-seeking behaviour and access to quality healthcare among this group. Furthermore, NHIA seeks to create health insurance schemes in states that do not have them and the accreditation of primary and secondary healthcare facilities that are more accessible to the population. These healthcare facilities are imperative in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), given their proximity and easy accessibility by people living in rural and semi-urban areas, with most of these facilities owned by the government. They provide comprehensive, good-quality care that meets patients’ needs and covers basic health services for disease prevention, health promotion, and health maintenance, including offering basic diagnostic tests, supplying safe, affordable medicines and vaccines, and so aiding in the attainment of UHC. Currently, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and private Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) operate side by side in Nigeria. There are 58 HMOs registered with the NHIS, of which 49 (77.6%) of them have a nationwide presence. Considering this, NOIPOlls surveyed to gauge the perception of Nigerians on health insurance schemes in the country.

Abuja, Nigeria. February 21st, 2022 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that 34 percent of adult Nigerians have disclosed that they experienced some form of bullying during their secondary school days. More findings from the poll revealed that physical (65 percent), extreme punishment (46 percent) and exploitation (24 percent) are the top three forms of bullying mostly experienced in various secondary schools across the country.   Reports of bullying of students across secondary schools in Nigeria is now becoming the norm. Some of the victims suffer physical and mental trauma, while others lose their lives in the process. Very recently, 12-year-old, Sylvester Oromoni, a Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS2) student of Dowen College, in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, tragically died under controversial circumstances leading to a public outcry. The late Dowen student was reportedly said to have been bullied by the boys in his school who were quite older than him.1 Over 3 in 10 Nigerians have experienced bullying in secondary school Insights from the poll results further revealed that 82 percent of adult Nigerians interviewed believe that bullying in secondary schools in the country is prevalent. However, it is worrisome that out of the (34 percent) who have been bullied before, (70 percent) did not report the incident while (27 percent) said they reported the incident. Also, of the (27 percent) who mentioned that they reported, (41 percent) of them claimed that nothing was done to the perpetrators after they were reported. Opinions on causes of bullying revealed cultism as the main cause of bullying in secondary schools as stated by (27 percent) of the respondents interviewed. While this is followed by those who attributed it to poor upbring (19 percent), 17 percent ascribed it to lack of morals and fear of God. With regards to the solution to this menace, 31 percent of the respondents recommended that CCTV cameras should be installed to monitor activities in secondary schools. Also, 14 percent advocated for a policy on bullying given that there are no specific anti-bullying laws and policies implemented in secondary schools. Given the current situation, there is an urgent need for extensive implementation of legislations that will define prohibited bullying behaviours, reporting requirements, investigation process, and method of sanctions. These are the key highlights from the Bullying Poll conducted in the week commencing February 14th, 2022.

Abuja, Nigeria. April 1st, 2015 – Latest governance poll results released by NOIPolls for the month of March 2015 revealed that 5 in 10 Nigerians (52 percent) approved of the performance of the President in March 2015. This indicates a substantial 11-points decline in the President’s approval rating from 63 percent in February 2015. This decline was stimulated by the general decline experienced across almost all geo-political zones except for the North-Central zone where he maintained the same rating from February 2015. The highest decline was surprisingly seen in the South-South zone with 17-points and followed by the South-West zone with 14-points. Furthermore, an evaluation of the performance of the President in key sectors of his transformation agenda revealed that the President achieved an average (3) rating in Economy , Health, Education, Agriculture & Food security, Transportation and Foreign Policy & Diplomacy , while he had a very poor (1) rating in Job creation, Power and Security . More findings from the poll revealed that 56 percent (31 + 25 percent) of respondents reported that power supply to their household worsened over the past one month. This is mostly true for the North-East zone with 79 percent. In addition, 25 percent of Nigerians especially from in the North-West (37 percent) saw an improvement in power supply to their households, while 19 percent of Nigerians saw no difference in power supply over the past one month. These are some of the key findings from the Governance Snap Poll conducted in the week of March 23rd 2015. These results represent the third in the 2015 monthly series of governance polls conducted by NOIPolls to gauge the opinions and perceptions of Nigerians regarding the approval rating of the President , the performance of the President on key elements of his transformation agenda , and the state of power supply in the country. Respondents to the poll were asked three specific questions. The first sought to assess the opinion of Nigerians on the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan over the past 1 month. Respondents were asked : Do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of President Jonathan in the past 1 month? Analysis of responses to this question revealed that 52 percent (20 percent+32 percent) of adult Nigerians approved of the President’s job performance in the past one month. On the other hand, 32 percent disapproved of the President’s job performance, while 16 percent remained neutral as they neither approved nor disapproved. Further analysis of the President’s performance by age-group revealed that Nigerians within the age of 61+ represent the highest percentage that approved the President’s job performance with 68 percent, followed by the age-group of 22-29 with 57 percent, while the age-group of 18-21 with 40 percent represent the highest percentage of Nigerians who disapproved of his job performance over the past one month. From the geopolitical zones viewpoint, the South-East zone (82 percent) accounted for the highest proportion of respondents who approved of the President’s performance, while the North-East zone (56 percent) accounted for the highest percentage of respondents who disapproved of the President’s performance in March 2015. Trend analysis by geo-political zones revealed that the President’s approval rating declined almost across all geo-political zones from February 2015, except for the North-Central zone where he maintained the same rating. The highest decline was surprisingly seen in the South-South zone with 17-points and followed by the South-West zone with 14-points. Further trend analysis of the President’s approval rating shows a significant 11-points decline in March 2015. Despite the decline, this rating represents a 6-points increase when compared to March 2014. To gauge the performance of the President on pertinent elements of his transformation agenda, respondents were asked: On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is very poor and 5 is excellent, how would you rate the performance of the President Jonathan in the following areas? (1) Job Creation (2) Power (3) Economy (4) Health (5) Education (6) Agriculture & Food Security (7) Transportation (8) Foreign policy & Diplomacy and (9) Security. The outcome revealed that the President scored an average (3) rating in Economy, Health, Education, Agriculture & Food security, Transportation and Foreign Policy & Diplomacy , while he had a very poor (1) rating in Job creation, Power and Security. Comparing current results with February 2015 revealed that the President’s performance rating on Economy, Health, Education, Transportation and Foreign Policy & Diplomacy maintained an average ranking of 3. He maintained a poor rating in Job Creation, Power and Security , while Agriculture & Food Security experienced a 1-point decline. Finally, to evaluate the state of power supply to Nigerian households over the past month, respondents were asked: How would you describe power supply in your area in the last 1 month? The result shows that 56 percent (31 + 25 percent) of surveyed respondents reported that power supply to their household worsened over the past one month. This is mostly true for the North-East zone with 79 percent. In addition, 25 percent of Nigerians especially from in the North-West (37 percent) saw an improvement in power supply to their households, while 19 percent of Nigerians saw no difference in power supply over the past one month. Monthly trend evaluation revealed a further decline of 7-points in power supply by March 2015. This result also represents a 7-point decline from March 2014. In the 27-months trend of power supply improvement, the month of March marked a significant trend of poor power supply in 2013, 2014 and 2015; with a record of power improvement below average. In conclusion, the governance poll result for March 2015 revealed that 52 percent of Nigerians approved the President’s job performance, while 32 percent disapproved and 16 percent remained neutral as they neither approved nor disapproved. The President also achieved an average (3) rating in his performance in Economy, Health, Education, Agriculture & Food security, Transportation and Foreign Policy & Diplomacy, while he had a very poor (1) rating in Job creation, Power and Security. Finally, 25 percent of the respondents in March 2015 reported that power supply to their households improved over the past one month, 19 percent reported there has been no difference, while 56 percent reported that it has remained bad or gone worse. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week of March 23rd 2015. 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 percent confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 3 percent. NOIPolls Limited, No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa, works in technical partnership with the Gallup Organisation (USA). 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

Approval=38% | Disapproval=44% | Undecided=18% | Change Direction=-2 Gender Age Occupation Geopolitical Zone

Approval=40% | Disapproval=42% | Undecided=18% | Change Direction=+2 Gender Age Occupation Geopolitical Zone

Approval=39% | Disapproval=48% | Undecided=13% | Change Direction=-1 Gender Age Occupation Geopolitical Zone

Approval=41% | Disapproval=47% | Undecided=12% | Change Direction=+2 Gender Age Occupation Geopolitical Zone

PRESIDENT BUHARI’S JOB PERFORMANCE RATING – RESULT RELEASE