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Foreword: Afrobarometer and African democracy   Executive summary Africa’s democratic project faces challenging times, overshadowing ruling-party transitions, the ouster of long-sitting presidents, and other democratic advances, and fuelling warnings that democracy is losing ground on the continent. Afrobarometer has documented the democratic aspirations and experiences of African citizens for the past 25 years. This report, the first in what will be an annual series on high-priority topics, distills findings from data spanning more than a decade, including our latest round of nationally representative surveys in 39 countries. In a nutshell: Africans want more democratic governance than they are getting, and the evidence suggests that nurturing support for democracy will require strengthening integrity in local government and official accountability. Key findings Support for democracy On average across 39 countries, support for democracy remains robust: Two-thirds (66%) of Africans say they prefer democracy to any other system of government, and large majorities reject one-man rule (80%), one-party rule (78%), and military rule (66%). But across 30 countries surveyed consistently over the past decade, support for democracy has declined by 7 percentage points, including by 29 points in South Africa and 23 points in Mali. Opposition to military rule has weakened by 11 points across 30 countries, most dramatically in Mali and Burkina Faso (by 40 and 36 points, respectively). More than half of Africans (53% across 39 countries) are willing to accept a military takeover if elected leaders “abuse power for their own ends.” Growing majorities call for government accountability and the rule of law, and support for other democratic norms has held steady over the past decade, including presidential accountability to Parliament, multiparty competition, presidential term limits, and media freedom. But support for elections has dropped by 8 percentage points across 30 countries, though a large majority still consider it the best method for choosing their leaders.   Supply of democracy Fewer than half (45%) of Africans think their countries are mostly or completely democratic, and only 37% say they are satisfied with the way democracy works in their countries. Across 30 countries, both indicators show declines – of 8 and 11 percentage points, respectively – over the past decade. Satisfaction with democracy has dropped precipitously in some of Africa’s most high-profile democracies, including Botswana (-40 points), Mauritius (-40 points), and South Africa (-35 points). Other indicators of democratic supply also show at least modest declines, including citizen assessments of the quality of elections and their president’s accountability to Parliament and the courts.   Drivers of democratic attitudes Deepening citizen dissatisfaction with how democracy is performing is strongly associated with perceived declines in both socioeconomic and political performance. But support for democracy as a system of government is more resilient to economic and social deficiencies. Where we see declines in support for democracy, they are most closely linked to adverse changes in political performance, such as declining election quality, increasing levels of corruption, and failure to promote the rule of law. Given the importance of citizen support to the survival of a democratic project, our findings underscore the centrality of restoring faith in African governments’ ability to deliver accountable, democratic governance. This summary was first published on Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer’s inaugural flagship report  shows that Africans remain strongly committed to democracy, its norms, and institutions, but there are also causes for concern. Over the past decade, popular support for democracy has declined sharply in several countries, and opposition to military rule has weakened. Meanwhile, satisfaction with the way democracy works has continued to decline. While popular satisfaction with democracy is highly susceptible to economic, social, and political performance, support for democracy is resilient against economic factors such as poverty and poor economic management. Instead, the evidence points to political factors, including rising corruption in local government, poor-quality elections, and a lack of presidential accountability, as factors that tend to undermine popular faith in democracy.  Nurturing support for democracy will therefore require strengthening integrity in local government and improved official accountability . The report, the first in what will be an annual series on high-priority topics, distils findings from data spanning more than a decade, including the latest round of nationally representative surveys in 39 African countries, representing the views of more than three-fourths of the continent’s population. The full report can be found here . The findings, based on 53,444 face-to-face interviews, show that most Africans prefer democracy to any other system of government and reject non-democratic alternatives, including military rule. They also strongly endorse norms, institutions, and practices associated with democratic governance, such as choosing political leaders through the ballot box, constitutional limits on presidential tenure, presidential compliance with court rulings, parliamentary oversight of the executive, media freedom, and multiparty competition.  Remarkably for a continent with huge gaps in government services, a clear – and growing – majority say it is more important for a government to be accountable to the people than to “get things done.” But other trends portend danger for the continent’s democratic development. Opposition to military rule has weakened: More than half of Africans express a willingness to tolerate military intervention “when elected leaders abuse power for their own ends,” even though two-thirds reject institutionalised military rule. While Africa’s youth differ little from their elders in their support for democracy, they express a greater willingness to tolerate military intervention.  Worryingly, perceptions of important democratic governance practices have either been declining over time, as in the case of presidential respect for the courts and Parliament, or have remained stagnant at very low levels, as in the case of equal treatment before the law.  The report also includes country democracy scorecards  that present graphic illustrations of Afrobarometer findings on the most critical indicators of democratic demand and supply for each of the countries surveyed. This article was first published on Afrobarometer.

Abuja, Nigeria. June 12th, 2024 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that corruption is the major challenge facing democratic rule in Nigeria as stated by 26 percent of adult Nigerians interviewed nationwide. Other challenges adduced by respondents include bad governance (20 percent), weak government institutions (18 percent) and insecurity (9 percent) amongst other challenges mentioned. This finding is further corroborated by the findings of Price water Cooper, a professional services organisation which stated that corruption could gulp up to 37 percent of Nigeria’s GDP by 2030. The report further revealed that the cost of corruption will be around 2000 USD per person by the year 2030 if not curtailed[1]. Download report here Furthermore, the poll result revealed that most adult Nigerians (74 percent) lamented they are not satisfied with democratic rule. Economic hardship (27 percent), high cost of living (20 percent), and no dividends of democracy (17 percent) were the top-mentioned reasons for their dissatisfaction with democratic dispensations. On the flip side, 25 percent gave thumbs-up with a greater number of respondents (34 percent) citing freedom of expression as a top reason. This finding corroborates the publication of Business Day newspaper which says ‘’ Nigeria’s democracy has been a story of trials and triumphs over the past 25 years. While the country has faced political instability, corruption, security threats, and economic challenges, it has also seen democracy gradually take root, granting citizens’ rights and freedoms unknown during military rule’’[2]. Additionally, respondents were asked to rate some key sectors under democratic rule in the country using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is very poor and 5 is very good. The poll findings revealed that majority of adult Nigerians (83 percent) interviewed rated economy as the poorest amongst the sectors under review. This is followed by electricity (79 percent), security (68 percent), Agriculture (65 percent), social amenities (63 percent), education (58 percent) amongst others ratings. Subsequently, the survey also sought to measure the level of trust Nigerians have in some public institutions who engage most with the general public using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 cannot be trusted at all, and 5 can be trusted a lot. The poll findings revealed that 62 percent of Nigerians disclosed that they have no trust in Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and this represents the highest number of respondents. This is followed by those who mentioned the Police (57 percent), the Judiciary (54 percent), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amongst others. Interestingly, on the contrary, a significant proportion of Nigerians (47 percent) revealed that they trust religious leaders more than public institutions. This is followed by 43 percent who say they trust the military and 40 percent traditional rulers. With regards to voter’s apathy, the findings revealed that almost half of the respondents (48 percent) interviewed believe that their votes do not count hence the main reason for low voters’ turnout during elections. Other reasons mentioned include lack of trust in politicians (20 percent), lack of trust in INEC (18 percent), fear of violence eruption (9 percent) and insecurity (9 percent) amongst other reasons. More findings revealed that 45 percent of the respondents want the government to focus on security within the next year. This is followed by the economy (39 percent) and education (37 percent). Other areas mentioned are food security (29 percent), electricity (28 percent), healthcare (24 percent), and job creation (22 percent). These are some of the key findings from the Democracy Day Poll conducted in the week commencing May 8th, 2024. Background Democracy Day is one of the most important days in the history of Nigeria[3]. It is a national public holiday in Nigeria to commemorate the restoration of democracy in 1999 marking an end to military rule in the country and it was symbolized by the swearing-in of the first President-elect, Olusegun Obasanjo, on May 29, 1999. Until 2018, it was celebrated annually on May 29[4]. On June 6, 2018, eight days after May 29, 2018, celebrated as Democracy Day, the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day, to commemorate the events of the day of the Presidential election in 1993 when results indicated a win for MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Abiola was never declared winner as the then Head of State General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the polls citing irregularities. It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in the year 2000. June 12 was formerly known as Abiola Day, celebrated in Lagos and some South-Western states of Nigeria[5]. Democracy Day is celebrated in many different ways. It is a day to both honour the struggles and sacrifices on the path toward democracy.  Democracy Day is also an opportunity to create awareness amongst Nigerians regarding the importance of participating in the political process and to encourage younger people to value the rights for which so many people worked so hard[6]. But the big question is: ‘’ Has democracy in Nigeria fared well since 1999?’’. Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former Vice-President of the World Bank's Africa Division, and a former Minister of Education and co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement-maintained that Democracy in practice and principle has been turbulent for Nigeria.  She added that the voice of the citizens, in the long run, could make a difference in the democratic process of the country[7]. More so, the Democracy Watch Reports, a compilation of reports that examine the state of democracy in Nigeria since May 1999, were unveiled by CDD-West Africa Director Idayat Hassan in Abuja. Presenting a broad overview of the reports, Hassan noted that despite 25 consecutive years of democratic rule, “it is still going to be a long walk to freedom” for Nigerians because democracy has not improved the economic and human rights situation of Nigerians. In his words, ‘’we appreciate the improvements in the conduct of periodic elections even though it is still far from the ideals, there has not been much improvement in civil liberties and the economy of Nigeria’’[8].The CDD-West Africa Director added that the development was disturbing as it would be “a fatal mistake to celebrate democracy only in name rather than an improvement in the dividends of democracy and how that reflects in the state of the economy.[9]” In the overview of the Democracy Watch Reports, CDD-West Africa explained that the dividends of democracy were not necessarily infrastructures as even authoritarian governments, including the military, had been noted to provide some basic infrastructures. According to the centre, dividends of democracy encapsulated such attributes as popular participation, rule of law, respect for human rights, accountability, transparency, predictability, competition and economic freedom, amongst others[10]. Against this background, NOIPolls surveyed to find out the views of Nigerians regarding democracy day and presents its findings. Survey Findings Public Satisfaction with Democracy in Nigeria The first question sought to gauge citizen’s satisfaction with democratic rule in Nigeria. The survey result revealed that most adult Nigerians nationwide are dissatisfied with democratic rule in Nigeria as disclosed by 74 percent of the proportion polled. On the other hand, while 25 percent of the respondents say they are satisfied, 10 percent of the respondents indicated that they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with democracy Subsequently, the majority, (74 percent) of the respondents who stated that they were displeased with the democratic rule in Nigeria were further probed and findings revealed that respondents mostly lamented over the high cost of living (47 percent), poor governance (20 percent) and lack of dividends of democracy (17 percent) amongst other reasons. On the contrary, 25 percent of the respondents who stated that they are satisfied with the democratic rule were further asked for their reason and 34 percent of the respondents stated that they enjoy the freedom of expression, dividends of democracy (19 percent) and that the government is doing its best (16 percent) amongst other reasons. Challenges to Democracy in Nigeria Additionally, respondents were asked what they think is the major challenge facing democracy in Nigeria. The poll findings revealed that corruption is the major challenge facing democracy in Nigeria as stated by 26 percent of those interviewed. Other challenges mentioned by Nigerians include bad governance (20 percent), weak government institutions (18 percent) and insecurity (9 percent) amongst other challenges. Evaluation of Governments’ Performance Across Key Sectors in Nigeria Furthermore, respondents were asked to rate some key sectors under democratic rule in the country using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is very poor and 5 is very good. The poll findings revealed that majority of adult Nigerians (83 percent) interviewed rated economy as the poorest rating amongst the sectors under review. This is followed by electricity (79 percent), security (68 percent), Agriculture (65 percent), social amenities (63 percent), education (58 percent) amongst others ratings. Trust In Public Institutions Furthermore, the survey also sought to measure the level of trust Nigerians have on some public institutions who engage most with the general public using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is cannot be trusted at all, and 5 is can be trusted a lot. The poll findings revealed that 62 percent of Nigerians say that they have no trust in Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and this represents the highest proportion of respondents. This is followed by those who mentioned the Police (57 percent), the Judiciary (54 percent), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amongst others. On the other hand, a significant proportion of Nigerians (47 percent) revealed they trust religious leaders more than the public institutions. This is also followed by 43 percent who say they trust the military and 40 percent traditional rulers. Voting Behaviour and Belief In order to determine voting behaviour amongst adult Nigerians, respondents were asked if they have voted before or not. Findings revealed that the vast majority (93 percent) answered in the affirmative. This cuts across gender, geo-political zones and age-group. Most of the respondents who disclosed that they have voted before were further asked the number of times they have participated in the exercise and findings revealed that a higher proportion of respondents (31 percent) have voted nine times and above. With regards to voter’s apathy, the findings revealed that a higher proportion of respondents (48 percent) interviewed believe that their votes do not count and that is the major reason for low voters’ turnout during elections. Other reasons mentioned include lack of trust in politicians (20 percent), lack of trust in INEC (18 percent), fear of violence eruption (9 percent) and insecurity (9 percent) amongst other reasons. When asked to rate the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in terms of efficiency and fairness during elections in Nigeria, findings showed that 59 percent of the respondents accounting for a higher proportion surveyed, rated the election umpire poor as opposed to 17 percent who gave a thump up. However, 24 percent maintained a neutral stance. Public Optimism for the Future The survey also sought to know the level of optimism of respondents on the future of democracy in the country. Findings revealed that a larger proportion of respondents (60 percent) have high hopes regarding the future of democracy in Nigeria. On the contrary, 22 percent expressed pessimism while 18 percent were neutral. Respondents were further asked to mention three top areas they expect the government to focus its attention in the next one year. Findings revealed that more respondents (45 percent) want the government to focus on security. This is followed by the economy (39 percent) and education (37 percent). Other areas mentioned are food security (29 percent), electricity (28 percent), healthcare (24 percent), job creation (22 percent). Conclusion Findings from the survey have shown that majority of adult Nigerians (74 percent) interviewed are not satisfied with democratic rule and have cited several reasons for their dissatisfaction among which include, Economic hardship (27 percent), high cost of living (20 percent), and no dividends of democracy (17 percent). Despite these issues, a significant proportion of respondents (60 percent) have remained optimistic about the future of Nigerian democracy. In the same vein, 26 percent of Nigerians mentioned corruption as the major challenge facing democratic rule in the country. Furthermore, the poll result has also shown that respondents have little or no trust at all in some institutions of the country under the democratic rule with a larger proportion (62 percent) not trusting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and this is followed by the police (57 percent), the judiciary (54 percent). This is calling on public institutions in the country to improve on the glaring trust deficit expressed by adult Nigerians as revealed in this survey. On the other hand, almost half of the respondents (47 percent) disclosed that they trust religious leaders, the military (43 percent) and traditional rulers (40 percent). Finally, findings also revealed that respondents cited security (45 percent), economy (39 percent) and education (37 percent) as the three top areas they expect the federal government to focus its attention on in the next year. The Federal government must strengthen our institutions, ensure accountability and transparency, and revive key sectors so citizens can enjoy the dividends of democracy in earnest and confidence in democratic rule will be restored. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing May 20th, 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 and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 per cent 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) 9 - 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/press-room/impact-of-corruption-on-nigeria-s-economy.html [2] https://businessday.ng/backpage/article/revisiting-nigerias-democratic-journey-a-mixed-picture-of-economic-performance/ [3]https://www.bellanaija.com/2023/06/democracy-day-june-12/ [4]https://fmino.gov.ng/may-29th-in-nigerias-history/ [5] https://www.bellanaija.com/2023/06/democracy-day-june-12/ [6] https://fmino.gov.ng/may-29th-in-nigerias-history/ [7]https://www.nigeriainfo.fm/lagos/news/hardfacts/in-practice-and-in-principle-nigeria-has-not-fared-well-democratically-oby-ezekwesili/ [8]https://www.icirnigeria.org/democracy-has-not-improved-economy-civil-liberties-in-nigeria-after-22-years-cdd/ [9]. https://www.icirnigeria.org/democracy-has-not-improved-economy-civil-liberties-in-nigeria-after-22-years-cdd/ [10] https://www.icirnigeria.org/democracy-has-not-improved-economy-civil-liberties-in-nigeria-after-22-years-cdd/

Abuja, Nigeria. June 12th, 2024 – As Nigeria celebrates another year of uninterrupted democracy, pertinent issues bordering on governance and the economy have been debated across the Nigerian social media space and other news channels. The citizenry sees this period as an opportunity to assess the performance of the Tinubu-led administration in meeting their campaign promises which hinged on insecurity, corruption and the economy. Given the above, NOIPolls presents findings from its past series of polls on the current administration’s approval rating over the past year. The poll, conducted over the last one-year (June 2023 to May 2024), assessed the opinions and perceptions of Nigerians regarding the appraisal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A total of 11,000 respondents were interviewed across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT in the survey within one year. The results revealed that over the last one-year (June 2023 to May 2024), President Tinubu's job approval had been rated an average of 27.5 percent; with his highest rating of 43 percent in June 2023, and lowest rating of 11 percent in February 2024. While the increase in the approval rating for June 2023 could be attributed to Nigerian's optimism for a new government and the prospects of better governance, the February 2024 depression could also be linked with the face-off between the Nigerian Government over the demands of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that saw Unionists protest the soaring economic hardship. Also, across various States, there were protests by Nigerians over the high cost of living. According to government statistics, the inflation rate in January rose to 29.9%, its highest since 1996, mainly driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages.[1] Increases in the price of petrol, unemployment, decline in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), free fall of the Naira, attacks on communities by armed bandits and strike actions by NLC and TUC over minimum wage are some of the issues starring Nigerians in the face just as the administration marks one year in office. These negative indices will likely influence the perceptions of Nigerians on the President’s performance as he marks one year in office. Furthermore, in terms of specific indicators, on average across the year, Nigerians rated the President’s performance on National Security (46.5 percent); while he was rated on Job Creation (38.6 percent), Corruption (38.2 percent) and handling of the Economy (37.9 percent). The figure below shows the compiled result as the polls were conducted every month. The respondents to the monthly polls were asked: Do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of President Tinubu in the past 1 month? Analysis from the compiled results revealed that President Bola Tinubu had an average approval rating of 27.5 percent over the last year, with the highest rating of 43 percent gain in June 2023 and the lowest rating of 11 percent in February 2024. With regards to specific indicators, Nigerians rated the President’s performance on National Security (46.5 percent) as average; while he was rated poorly on Job Creation (38.6 percent), Corruption (38.2 percent) and handling of the Economy (37.9 percent). Conclusion In conclusion, findings have revealed that over the last one-year, Tinubu’s administration has been rated an average of 27.5 percent on job approval; with his highest rating of 43 percent in June 2023, and lowest rating of 11 percent in February 2024. In addition, Nigerians rated the President’s performance on National Security (46.5 percent) as average; while he was rated poorly on Job Creation (38.6 percent), Corruption (38.2 percent) and handling of the Economy (37.9 percent). While Nigeria is facing economic challenges, viewing them as opportunities for positive transformation is crucial. By embracing comprehensive economic reforms, prioritising social welfare, creating job opportunities, accelerating infrastructure development, and fostering inclusive governance, Nigeria can move faster on her path to sustainable growth and development. Finally, the collective effort of government, private sector, and citizens is paramount in shaping a future where economic and other policies are not just markers of change but catalysts for progress and prosperity for all. One of these policies should centre on security and employment generation. If this is done, the security challenges and the high rate of unemployment Nigeria is currently struggling with can be greatly reduced. Disclaimer This Press Release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues that 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)8135474512 +234 (0)8137496113 [1] https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/20/nigerians-protest-over-high-cost-of-living/

Abuja, Nigeria. February 15, 2024 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed a higher proportion of adult Nigerians nationwide (56 percent) lament authorities are not doing enough to curb the menace of kidnapping in the country. The poll further revealed that more respondents (53 percent), about 74,201,877 of the country’s population according to the population and housing census figures of 2006, consider kidnapping to be prevalent in Nigeria. Interestingly, the North-Central Zone accounted for the highest number of respondents who decried the prevalence of the menace. These findings further corroborate the publication of the International Centre for Investigative Report (ICIR), that in recent years, Nigeria has seen a sharp increase in kidnapping incidence. Similarly, the 2023 Nigeria Security Report on kidnappings/abductions by an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence company, Beacon Consulting, captured by Punch Newspaper on January 13, 2024, the country’s security architecture at the moment is not accountable as it lacks operational, financial, and democratic accountability, a development the report said, has made it difficult to attain the desired success in security. In providing insights into the outcomes of the various kidnap cases reported in the country, findings revealed that 38 percent of adult Nigerians interviewed affirmed knowing someone who has been kidnapped within their community in the past year, while 62 percent stated otherwise. When asked if the most recent victim has been released, findings revealed a majority (78 percent) answered in the affirmative. Contrarily, 13 percent revealed that victims are still in captivity and 5 percent sadly disclosed victims were killed in captivity. Additionally, respondents (78 percent) who admitted that victims were released were further asked how long the victims were held hostage before regaining freedom. A higher proportion (60 percent) of respondents revealed that they were held for less than one month. Also, 24 percent stated victims were held for 1 to 2 months, 9 percent stated the victims were held for 3 to 5 months, and 4 percent stated the victims were held for 6 months and above. When respondents were asked if a ransom was paid for the victims’ release, 43 percent said ‘’Yes’ ’while 57 percent stated otherwise. Unfortunately, a higher proportion of respondents (21 percent) revealed that between 1 to 3 million was paid as ransom. This is followed by 17 percent who disclosed that 10 million and above was paid for victims’ release, 4 to 6 million at 11 percent. These findings corroborate the SBM Intelligence’s report captured by a Premium Times publication that Kidnappers collected N650 million as ransom in one year. The security report also recorded that N6.531 billion ($9.9 million) was demanded in ransom between July 2021 and June 2022 but N653.7 million ($1.2 million) was paid as ransom for releasing captives. In the same vein, respondents (13 percent) who revealed that victims are still in captivity were asked how long they have been held captive. A significant proportion (30 percent) disclosed victims have been held hostage for less than one month and another significant proportion, (30 percent) revealed two months. In others, 23 percent revealed that victims have been in captivity for 6 months or above. Major causes of kidnapping in the country, 39 percent of respondents stated economic hardship and unemployment (28 percent) as major causes of kidnapping in Nigeria. Other cited causes include; Bad Governance (10 percent), Get Rich Quick syndrome (5 percent), and Poverty (4 percent). However, 9 percent of respondents stated that they do not know the cause of kidnapping in the country. Finally, respondents were asked what should be done to curb kidnapping in the country and the result revealed that a higher proportion of respondents (37 percent) suggest Youth Empowerment/Creation of job opportunities as a way of curbing the menace. Others 22 percent want security forces to be strengthened. These are some of the key findings from the poll on kidnapping conducted in the week commencing February 12, 2024. Background Kidnapping has become a menace and one of the security challenges in Nigeria. The definition of kidnapping is not specific as it varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Kidnapping as the name implies, is the forceful seizure, taking away and unlawful detention of a person against his/her will. It is an illicit practice in which human beings are forcefully abducted to an unknown location for payment of ransom by relatives. Kidnapping is a common law offence and the key part is that it is an unwanted act on the part of the victim. It is a restriction of someone else’s liberty which violates the provision of freedom of movement as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where every other law takes its cue from. The predominance of this illicit practice in Nigeria was ranked in the global index as one of the worst places to dwell. In Nigeria, kidnapping and hostage-taking dates back to decades ago and has particularly become a major security issue in the country since the early 2000s with the emergence of the Niger Delta militants. The volatile oil-rich regions of the Niger Delta witnessed this phenomenon on a large scale with the targets mostly expatriates and Nigerians in the oil business. While the federal government found some ways to manage the kidnapping situation in the Niger Delta region then, the menace didn’t stop. It has spread throughout the country extending to places as far as Kano and Kaduna in the far Northern part of Nigeria. South-Eastern and South-South parts of Nigeria have also become the kidnappers’ playgrounds. Recently, kidnapping has risen across all regions in the country, with an average of 3,000 persons abducted almost every year in the last 3 years. The widening scale of kidnapping in Nigeria is a cause for concern as all are affected by it. Churches, mosques, markets, schools, homes and highways, all are susceptible to this menace. The abductees and their families are traumatised by the ordeal as victims are often assaulted, starved, molested, maimed or killed as the case may be. Large-scale abductions have also targeted school children. A study case is the abduction of the Chibok Girls. Ten years ago, 276 schoolgirls were abducted from a government secondary school in Chibok, a town in Borno State, Nigeria. Some of the girls escaped captivity on their own, while others were released following intense campaigning efforts from organisations, including Amnesty International. However, 82 girls remain in captivity, while more than 1,400 children have been abducted in subsequent attacks. Thousands of students have been kidnapped in Borno State’s Chibok, Niger State’s Kagara, Zamfara State’s Jangebe, Kaduna State’s Afaka, Kebbi State’s Yauri, Ekiti State etc. In 2021, Save the Children International, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), disclosed that over 1,000 students were abducted from Nigerian schools. Data from the NST also showed how the wave of kidnapping has shifted from one region to another. In July 2022, Daily Trust reported that N800 million was paid to terrorists to secure the release of seven captives seized from the AK9 train service attacked on the Abuja–Kaduna route. The released victims were among the dozens of passengers abducted on March 28, 2022, by gunmen who derailed the moving train. Similarly, an Enugu-based politician, Tochukwu Okeke, who in 2019 narrated how he was kidnapped by a late notorious kidnapper, Collins Ezenwa, popularly known as ‘E-money, said he paid $2 million, which had a naira value of N700 million at the time, to secure his release. The Monarchs are not spared as there were recent incidences of kidnap and gruesome killings of 2 monarchs in Kwara and Ondo states respectively. No fewer than 15 persons have been reportedly kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the beginning of 2024. The victims were kidnapped in two major incidents that occurred in the first week of the new year thus depicting rising cases of abduction in the nation’s capital. With the invasion of kidnappers, ‘One-chance’ vehicle robbers and sundry other criminal cartels, Abuja is becoming increasingly unsafe for residents according to respected Security Analyst and Lawyer, Bulama Bukarti Nigeria’s Kidnapping crisis highlights the Country’s Problematic Intelligence Infrastructure. Whether the problems are technical, political, or both, it is civilians who pay the price. Unfortunately, there is a lack of will to effectively arrest and prosecute kidnappers, politics of resource control and complicit on the part of the political, religious and military leadership in the country acting as limiting factors on state’s responses. Against this background, NOIPolls surveyed to measure the opinions of Nigerians regarding kidnappings in the country, and hereby presents its findings.

A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls in the week commencing February 26th, 2024, has revealed that 74 percent of adult female Nigerians are not aware of any socioeconomic support program specifically dedicated to women in their respective communities. Notwithstanding, almost all the female respondents (99 percent) nationwide admitted that socioeconomic support for women is important. In addition, the poll revealed that the top three important socioeconomic support programs mentioned are access to healthcare and reproductive rights (48 percent), leadership development initiatives like workshops (40 percent) and affordable childcare options amongst other support programs mentioned. Furthermore, when respondents were asked about their challenges as women, 68 percent stated financial constraints, 31 percent mentioned limited access to employment opportunities and 25 percent disclosed that their challenges are caregiving responsibilities for children and elderly family members. Similarly, the respondents were asked to state their professional challenges and the top three professional challenges mentioned are limited opportunities for career growth (13 percent), gender discrimination and bias, work-life balance and family responsibilities, and salary gap and unequal remuneration (10 percent each). Unfortunately, 96 percent of adult female Nigerians interviewed disclosed that they do not have any socioeconomic support program currently available to them. With regards to their educational level, out of the 96 percent who stated that there are no socioeconomic programs currently available to them, 98 percent have post-secondary school education while 97 percent have completed tertiary (97 percent). Download the report here. Find infographics that summarize the findings of the survey in an instant.

Abuja, Nigeria. March 11th, 2024 – A new public opinion poll released by NOIPolls has revealed that a significant proportion of adult Nigerians nationwide (59 percent) follow the English Premier League. However, further findings revealed that only a handful of adult Nigerians (8 percent) follow the Spanish Laliga, while 2 percent mentioned they follow the Italian Serie A and the French Ligue 1. In all, 67 percent of adult Nigerians interviewed stated that they do watch football. In terms of support, for those who follow the English Premier League, Chelsea FC (28 percent) has the highest proportion of respondents who support the team and interestingly, more female respondents (32 percent) expressed support for Chelsea than male (25 percent). This is followed by Manchester United (23 percent) and Arsenal (21 percent). In terms of winning, a higher proportion of respondents (22 percent) have predicted that Liverpool FC would win the 2023/2024 English Premier League season. This tipping cannot be unconnected to the clubs’ outstanding performance in the present season as well as being on top of the league table at the time of the poll having amassed 63 points from 27 matches. This is closely followed by Manchester City (21 percent) and Arsenal (18 percent). Additional findings revealed that most adult Nigerians (86 percent) followed the African Cup of Nations which was hosted by Cote D’Ivoire. Interestingly, a vast majority (92 percent) predicted that Nigeria would lift the trophy at the time this poll was conducted. In contrast, only a handful of respondents predicted that Cote d’Ivoire (1 percent) or South Africa (1 percent) would win the Africa Nation’s Cup. Only 34 percent of respondents say they follow the Nigerian Premier League and patriotism (45 Percent) came up tops as the reason why respondents follow the league. However, 66 percent of respondents say they do not follow the Nigerian Premier League. Some of the reasons include boring matches (31 percent), not finding time out of busy schedules to watch the matches (24 percent), matches not up to standard and not transmitting live matches both tied at 6 percent. Others cited were Poor organization, corrupt officiating, and low publicity (5 percent). To gain more followership in the league, some respondents suggested that the league should be more entertaining (12 percent), create more awareness (10 percent), and use quality players amongst other reasons. Further findings revealed that amongst those who follow the Nigerian premier league, 27 percent support Kano Pillars, Enyimba FC (14 percent), and Enugu Rangers (8 percent). Also, a higher proportion of respondents (22 percent) tipped Kano Pillars to win the Nigerian Premier League. While 17 percent stated that Enyimba FC would win the league, 7 percent tipped Enugu Rangers to win the league. Similarly, more findings showed a significant proportion of adult Nigerians interviewed (42 percent) support their club because it is the club of their state of origin while 38 percent stated they support their club because they play good football. These are some of the key findings from the Football Poll conducted in the week commencing February 1st, 2024. Background Football is a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field having goal posts at each end, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line and by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts[1]. Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century[2]. Since before medieval times, “folk football” games had been played in towns and villages according to local customs and with a minimum of rules. Football is the world’s most popular ball game in number of participants and spectators[3]. Simple in its principal rules and essential equipment, the sport can be played almost anywhere, from official football playing fields (pitches) to gymnasiums, streets, school playgrounds, parks, or beaches. According to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the viewership of the 2018 World Cup was estimated to be 3.57 billion, close to half of the global population, while the engagement with the 2022 World Cup was estimated to be 5 billion, with about 1.5 billion people watching the final match[4]. The game unites people from different cultures, races, and backgrounds as the exciting moments thrill football enthusiasts and over time, different football leagues sprang up. The Premier League, also affectionately known as The Premiership, is the pride of football in the United Kingdom[5]. In February of 1992, The FA Premier League was formed, and the first games were played in August of the same year[6]. The FA Premier League’s name was officially changed to the Premier League in 2007[7]. The English Premiership is wildly popular throughout the world and owes much of its success to media coverage of football sporting events[8]. The league is also known as Barclays Premier League since its official sponsor is Barclays Bank[9]. The Premier League’s football season runs from August to May and each team plays a total of 38 games. Over the years, a total of 40 football clubs have participated in The Premier League. However, of the 40 teams that have competed in The Premier League, only a handful of the clubs have won the UK Premiership title – those teams include Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City FC[10]. In the same vein, the Nigeria Football Federation created the Nigeria Premier League in May 1990[11]. It was organized by the Nigeria Football League in 1990 as a step in attaining full professionalism as the sole regulatory body for football in Nigeria. The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of football club in the Nigerian football league system. However, across ages, Enyimba has been the most successful, winning the professional league eight times. They are followed by the crowd-pulling Kano Pillars who won four times, while Shooting Stars, Heartland and Lobi Stars have each won twice[12]. The Nigerian Premier League has suffered like many others, from the financial impact and dwindling fortunes since the late 2000s.[13] Against this background, NOIPolls surveyed to measure the opinions of Nigerians regarding the English premier league and the Nigerian premier league, and hereby presents its findings. Survey Findings To ascertain Nigerian's enthusiasm, the survey posed the first question ‘’Do you watch football?’’. Analysis revealed that most adult Nigerians (67 percent) nationwide affirmed they watch football.  On the other hand, 33 percent of the respondents stated otherwise. Respondents who affirmed they watch football were further asked if they were following the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Cote D’Ivoire. Analysis revealed majority (86 percent) of Adult Nigerians who watch football answered ‘Yes’, to watching the Africa Cup of Nations. On the contrary, a few (14 percent) said “No”. More analysis shows that the South-West zone (91 percent) accounted for the highest number of football loving Nigerians who followed/watched the tournament. This is followed by North-West zone (90 percent), and South-East (88 percent), cutting across all age brackets. The survey also revealed that more men (92 percent) followed/watched the tournament than women (81 percent). Interestingly, respondents were asked their opinion on which country they think would win the Africa Nations Cup, and the vast majority (92 percent) predicted that Nigeria would lift the coveted trophy. However, a meager (2 percent) of adult Nigerians predicted that Ivory Coast or South Africa would win, while 6 percent out rightly stated that they did not know. This cuts across geo-political zones and gender. Furthermore, the survey sought to know the followership of the different football leagues among adult Nigerians. It posed the question “Which football league do you follow/watch?’’. Respondents were allowed to pick only one option. Findings reveal that slightly above half ( 59 percent) of adult Nigerians who watch football follow the English Premier League. However, 8 percent follow Spanish Laliga, 2 percent watch/follow the Nigerian Premier League, and 2 percent the Italian Series and the French League (1 percent) respectively. However, while 29 percent out rightly stated that they do not follow/watch any football leagues, the South-East and North-Central zones (72 percent each) account for the regions with the highest proportion of respondents who follow the English Premier League. This is followed by the South-South zone (66 percent), South-West (62 percent), North-West (57 percent), and North-East zone (38 percent) having the lowest proportion of respondents who follow the EPL. Also, there are more males (65 percent) than females (56 percent) who follow the EPL. The age group (18-35) respondents (64 percent) and age group (36-60) (61 percent) have more respondents than age group (61 and above) (48 percent) who follow the league. Out of the 41 percent of the respondents who follow other football leagues or none, 80 percent stated that they do not follow the EPL. However, 20 percent affirmed that they follow the English Premier League with the South-South zone (23 percent) having the highest number of respondents who disclosed this. Also, there are more males (31 percent) than females (10 percent) who follow the EPL. Respondents were further asked the English Premier League club they mainly support, and poll findings revealed that a good proportion of respondents (28 percent) affirm they support Chelsea with the South-South Zone (42 percent) accounting the region with the highest proportion of respondents who support Chelsea FC. Interestingly, more females (32 percent) than males (25 percent) indicated support for Chelsea FC. This is then followed by Manchester United FC (23 percent), Arsenal FC (21 percent), Manchester City FC (7 percent), Liverpool FC (6 percent) and Tottenham FC (1 percent). On the contrary, 14 percent of adult Nigerians stated that they do not support any club in the English Premier League. When asked which Nigerian footballer they think is the most valuable in the EPL. Findings reveal top-picks are Alex Iwobi (17 percent), Taiwo Awoniyi (9 percent), and Michael Oliseh (8 percent). Others are Frank Onyeka (4 percent), Kelechi Iheanacho (2 percent), Wilfred Ndidi (2 percent), Ola Aina (1 percent), and Kelvin Bassey (1 percent). However, a large proportion of adult Nigerians interviewed (31 percent) opined no Nigerian footballer is valuable in the EPL. While quite a good number (25 percent) out rightly stated that they do not know. Respondents were asked their opinion on who will win the English Premier League this season and a good proportion (22 percent) said Liverpool will win the league. More males (27 percent) than females (14 percent) respondents who believe Liverpool FC will win the league. Interestingly, 21 percent predict that Manchester City FC will lift the coveted league trophy. Other teams predicted to win the league include Arsenal FC (18 percent), Chelsea FC (6 percent), Manchester United FC (4 percent), Aston Villa (1 percent). However, a higher proportion (28 percent) of adult Nigerians interviewed revealed that they do not know which league will win the 2023/2024 season. On the other hand, the poll sought to know the proportion of Nigerians who follow the Nigerian Premier league, and the poll result reveals that only 34 percent of Nigerians follow the Nigerian league with the North-East (41 percent) being the region with the highest proportion of respondents who follow the league. While a large proportion (66 percent) say they do not follow the Nigerian Premier League. The South-West (74 percent) has the highest proportion of respondents who do not follow the Nigerian Premier League. Furthermore, 34 percent who follow the Nigerian Premier League mentioned several reasons for their choice of followership, this includes patriotism (45 percent), good players (20 percent), general love for football (10 percent) amongst other reasons stated. On the flip side, the higher proportion (66 percent) of adult Nigerians who do not fancy the Nigerian Premier League gave their reasons and the top mentioned are boring (31 percent), no time to watch (24 percent), not up to standard (6 percent). Other reasons include They do not show the matches (6 percent), poor organization and corrupt officiating (5 percent), lack of publicity (5 percent), and Epileptic power supply (4 percent) amongst others. Additionally, adult Nigerians who follow the Nigerian Premier Leagues were asked the club they mainly support and the poll result revealed that Kano Pillars (27 percent) has the highest proportion of respondents who affirmed their support for the team. This is followed by Enyimba United FC (14 percent), Enugu Rangers FC (8 percent), and Plateau United FC (3 percent), Lobi Stars (3 percent) amongst other teams in the league. When asked the reason for their choice, a significant proportion of respondents (42 percent ) revealed that ‘’because it’s my state club’’. 38 percent disclosed that they love the club because they play well, and 12 percent revealed  ‘’they just like them’’, amongst other reasons mentioned. The survey also sought to know the opinion of adult Nigerians on the Nigerian premier league club they think will win the 2023/2024 season. The highest proportion ( 22 percent ) tipped Kano Pillars to win the season. Of those who predict Enyimba will win 17 percent, while 7 percent believe Enugu Rangers will lift the trophy this season. Finally, the survey sought to know what can be done to increase followership of the Nigerian Premier League. A higher proportion of the respondents (12 percent) suggest that the game should be made more entertaining. Other suggestions include raising awareness (10 percent), using good players to play good football (9 percent), Government support (9 percent), Good sponsorship and management (8 percent), televising on local and foreign TV stations at convenient times (8 percent), as well as Improve electricity (7 percent). Conclusion In conclusion, a good proportion of Nigerians (67 percent) watch football, while 33 percent do not fancy the game. Interestingly, findings revealed that most adult Nigerians interviewed (86 percent) followed the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Cote D’Ivoire and the vast majority (92 percent) predicted that Nigeria would lift the trophy. The poll results also revealed that a higher proportion of adult Nigerians (59 percent) follow the English Premier League as against 34 percent who follow the Nigerian Premier League. Among respondents who follow the English Premier League, Chelsea FC (28 percent) has the highest supporters followed by Manchester United FC (23 percent). Nigerians (22 percent) tipped the Liverpool FC to win the 2023/2024 Premier League season. Currently, Liverpool FC is topping the league with 57 points having won 17 games played and lost just 2 of their games. Contrarily, the followership of the Nigerian Premier League is low (34 percent) as revealed by the poll. Also, Kano Pillars were tipped by respondents (22 percent) to win the Nigerian Premier League and the same Kano Pillars have the largest followership (27 percent). Lastly, there is an urgent need for the football administrators in the country to step up and address some of the issues that have caused low followership and disinterestedness in the Nigerian premiership as the importance of football as a unifying factor in the country cannot be overemphasized. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing February 1st, 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 that 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) 9 - 290 4162 +234 (0) 9 – 291 4877 [1] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/football [2] https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer [3] https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer [4] https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/news/one-month-on-5-billion-engaged-with-the-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-tm [5] https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/43683/recreation_and_sports/a_brief_history_and_overview_of_the_english_premier_league.html [6] A Brief History and Overview of the English Premier League (streetdirectory.com) [7] A Brief History and Overview of the English Premier League (streetdirectory.com) [8] A Brief History and Overview of the English Premier League (streetdirectory.com) [9] A Brief History and Overview of the English Premier League (streetdirectory.com) [10] https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/43683/recreation_and_sports/a_brief_history_and_overview_of_the_english_premier_league.html [11] http://www.sportflames.com/2020/05/exclusive-nigeria-professional-league.html [12] http://www.sportflames.com/2020/05/exclusive-nigeria-professional-league.html [13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Professional_Football_League#History

News release A majority of Africans are dissatisfied with their government’s efforts to provide public education, the latest Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile shows. Based on national surveys in 39 African countries, the report shows that younger generations have more education than their elders, but women, poor people, and rural residents face persistent disadvantages in educational attainment. Among adults who had recent contact with a public school, most say they found it easy to obtain the services they needed and were treated with respect. But the findings also highlight the widespread problem of out-of-school children and demands for bribes in exchange for services. While countries vary widely in their experiences and assessments, a majority of Africans are dissatisfied with their government’s performance on education, though they appreciate their leaders’ efforts to minimise disruptions to schooling due to COVID-19. Key findings On average across 39 African countries, more than half (55%) of adults have secondary (37%) or post-secondary (18%) education, while 27% have primary schooling and 18% have no formal education (Figure 1). o    Younger Africans have more education than their elders. About two-thirds (65%) of respondents aged 18-35 have had at least some secondary education, compared to 52%, 44%, and 35% of the progressively older cohorts. o    Women are less likely than men to have secondary or post-secondary education (51% vs. 59%) and more likely to lack formal education altogether (20% vs. 16%). o    The poorest respondents are more than three times as likely as the best-off to lack formal schooling (25% vs. 7%) and less than one-third as likely to have post-secondary qualifications (11% vs. 37%). o    The same pattern holds for rural vs. urban residents: 27% vs. 9% lack formal schooling, and 9% vs. 28% have post-secondary education. Among citizens who had contact with public schools during the previous year, three-fourths (74%) say they found it easy to obtain the services they needed (Figure 2). o    And three-fourths (74%) say that teachers or other school officials treated them with respect (Figure 3). o    But one in five (19%) say they had to pay a bribe to get the needed services, ranging from 2% in Cabo Verde to 50% in Liberia. Poor respondents are twice as likely as well-off citizens to report having to pay a bribe to a teacher or school official. Almost half (48%) of Africans say school-age children who are not in school are a “somewhat frequent” or “very frequent” problem in their community, reaching as high as 83% in Liberia and 71% in Angola (Figure 4). Fewer than half (46%) of Africans think their government is performing “fairly well” or “very well” on education, while 52% give their leaders poor marks (Figure 5). 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 9 surveys (2021/2023) cover 39 countries. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with samples of 1,200-2,400 adults that yield country-level results with margins of error of +/-3 to +/-2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Charts Figure 1: Educational attainment | by demographic group | 39 countries | 2021/2023 Respondents were asked: What is your highest level of education? Figure 2: Ease of obtaining public school services | 39 countries |2021/2023 Respondents who had contact with a public school during the previous 12 months were asked: How easy or difficult was it to obtain the services you needed from teachers or school officials? (Respondents who had no contact with a public school are excluded.) Figure 3: Respect from public school officials | 39 countries | 2021/2023 Respondents who had contact with a public school during the previous 12 months were asked: In general, when dealing with teachers and school officials, how much do you feel that they treat you with respect? (Respondents who had no contact with a public school are excluded.) Figure 4: Out-of-school children a frequent problem | 39 countries | 2021/2023 Respondents were asked: How frequently do you think the following things occur in your community or neighborhood: Children who should be in school are not in school? (% who say “somewhat frequently” or “very frequently”) Figure 5: Government performance on education | 39 countries | 2021/2023 Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say: Addressing educational needs? For more information, please contact: Daniel Iberi Afrobarometer communications officer for East Africa Email: diberi@afrobarometer.org Telephone: +254725674457 Visit us online at www.afrobarometer.org. Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica.

A majority of Nigerians see plastic bags as a major source of pollution in the country and favor government action to protect the environment, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows. More than half of citizens say pollution is a serious problem in their communities, citing trash and plastic disposal and sanitation as their most important environmental issues. The Lagos state government last week announced a ban on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics, which it said are clogging drainage channels in Lagos. Find out more about Nigerians’ views on pollution and environmental governance here. Key findings Almost two-thirds (63%) of citizens see plastic bags as a major source of pollution in Nigeria (Figure 1). More than half (53%) say pollution is a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their communities (Figure 2). Citizens say trash and plastic disposal (cited by 27%) and human waste management (26%) are the most important environmental issues in their communities (Figure 3). Almost two-thirds (63%) of Nigerians say the government should be doing more to limit pollution and protect the environment, including 48% who say it needs to do “much more” (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. Eight survey rounds in up to 39 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 9 surveys (2021/2023) are currently underway. 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 sample of 1,600 adult citizens 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 surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2020. Charts Figure 1: Are plastic bags a major source of pollution? | Nigeria | 2022 Respondents were asked: Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Plastic bags are a major source of pollution in this country. Figure 2: Extent of pollution in the community | Nigeria | 2022 Respondents were asked: How serious a problem is pollution, such as the accumulation of trash or garbage, or damage to the quality of the air, the water, or the land, in your community? Figure 3: Most important environmental issue in the community | Nigeria | 2022 Respondents were asked: Which of the following is the most important environmental issue in your community today? Figure 4: Should government do more to protect the environment? | Nigeria | 2022 Respondents were asked: In your opinion, should our government be doing more or less than it is currently doing to limit pollution and protect the environment in this country? For more information, please contact: NOIPolls Raphael Mbaegbu Telephone: +234 63292096 Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com Visit us online at: www.afrobarometer.org. Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica.

Abuja, Nigeria-January, 16th 2024 – A new public opinion poll released by NOIPolls reveals the top three key and important areas Nigerians want the government to focus on in the year 2024 and these include security (52 percent), job creation (46 percent) and electricity (40 percent).  Other areas Nigerians want the government to focus on to solve the challenges in the areas include price regulation (36 percent), reconsideration of subsidy removal (30 percent), economy (20 percent), agricultural sector, and education both tied at (19 percent), Infrastructure (11 percent), giving of soft loans (7 percent) and upward review of the minimum wage (5 percent) amongst other areas mentioned by adult Nigerians. The frightening spate of insecurity in Nigeria has become a liability for the government as it is their sole responsibility to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians. It is crippling economic activities across the nation as there is an obvious link between the insecurity in Nigeria and the living condition of its citizens. The widespread insecurity in the country has led to the disruption of agricultural activities which is the largest employer of labor and the largest economic sector in the country (25.9% of GDP in 2021). Agriculture also provides input for various manufacturing companies. Nigeria’s high food inflation rate, which stood at 17.2% in March 2022, is largely attributed to the increasing scourge of insecurity in the country’s Northern region.[1] Beyond the agricultural sector, unemployment generally especially amongst those within the youthful age has become worrisome. The incidence of high unemployment in Nigeria can be attributed to the slow pace of job creation, which has been considerably weaker than labor force growth.[2] Keeping Nigerians engaged and productive, especially the younger population will reduce the incidences of excessive behaviors and criminality. Another bothersome trend is the spate of electricity supply in Nigeria which has remained grossly inadequate hence affecting household and commercial demands. Nigerians self-generate a significant portion of their electricity with highly polluting off-grid alternatives and at a cost that is more than twice the cost of grid-based power. How can the Nigerian people and industries be globally competitive without access to affordable and reliable power?[3] With a major focus on the aforementioned areas of priority, there is a need for the government to expedite action to ameliorate the current challenging socio-economic situation and create a sustainable living condition for Nigerians. These are some of the key highlights from the New Year Poll conducted in the week commencing January 8th, 2024. Survey Background At the stroke of midnight on the 1st January 2024 the euphoric and nostalgic chant of “Happy New Year” rented the air heralding the dawn of a new year in every part of the globe. People all over the world chanted with excitement and euphoria as 2023 eased out. New years are associated with new beginnings and opportunities for growth. As it is the norm in African societies where communal living is entrenched and family life is held in high esteem, the new year is celebrated with families and friends. It is typically considered an extension of the Christmas celebration. Amidst the celebration and fanfare, the question of what the new year holds for Nigerians is heavy in the hearts of many citizens. With all the surprises, changes, and adjustments Nigerians had to deal with in 2023, a feasible and honest road map for national development is anticipated from the government of the day. Nigerians are eager to find out from their leaders: Will living conditions improve? Will food prices crash? Will there be improved security? Will wages increase? Will the fuel prices drop? Will Nigerians see a drop in foreign exchange rates? Will healthcare improve? Will there be improved infrastructure? Will Nigerians be allowed to “breathe”? As Nigerians anticipate a better year, it would be heartwarming to see tangible improvement in the key areas Nigerians have pointed out, in security, job creation, and electricity amongst others. Whether the wish of Nigerians will materialize for good or get worse remains to be seen as the year unfolds. 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 the year 2024 and the poll results reveal that the top three key areas include Security (52 percent), Job creation (46 percent), and Electricity (40 percent). Other areas Nigerians want the government to pay attention to include price regulation (36 percent), reconsideration of subsidy removal (30 percent), economy (20 percent), agricultural sector and education (19 percent), infrastructure (11 percent), giving of soft loans (7 percent), upward review of minimum wage (5 percent), improve key sectors and roll out empowerment programs (3 percent). Conclusion In conclusion, the poll results reveal that Nigerians want the government to focus its attention on three key areas which include security, job creation, and electricity. This is an agenda-setting endeavor by Nigerians to the government as these areas have been long neglected by the government and the effect of neglect is felt by everyone in the country. For instance, due to neglect in the security sector, Nigerians experience loss of lives every time there is an attack in their communities and they live in fear and trepidation, and no economy can grow given such dire circumstances. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the government to move in this direction with the view of ameliorating the problem so that ordinary Nigerians will experience a better life in the year 2024. It remains to be seen if the government will heed the yearnings of Nigerians or will turn a blind eye while Nigerians continue to count their losses. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing January 8th, 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 and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 per cent 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] The Economics of Insecurity: Nigeria’s Rough Patch - Nigeria’s First Credit Rating Company (agusto.com) [2] Structural transformation and jobless growth in Nigeria (pwc.com) [3] Challenges and Interventions Needs in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) | CSEA AFRICA - CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF THE ECONOMIES OF AFRICA

Abuja, Nigeria. December 30th, 2023 - A new public opinion poll has revealed that most Nigerians (66 percent) are dissatisfied with the year 2023. Geo-political zones analysis reveals the North East region (76 percent) has the highest number of Nigerians who made this assertion. According to the poll, Nigerians highlighted four major areas that influenced their dissatisfaction with the year 2023 and this includes hunger and economic hardship, increased inflation, things not working well, and a poor economy. The subsidy removal by the federal government in May this year without introducing wide-reaching palliatives to cushion the effect may have contributed to the proportion of respondents who expressed dissatisfaction. The report of the World Bank further corroborates the Poll findings released this year that more than 4 million Nigerians have been plunged into poverty in the first six months of the year 2023 and a further 7.1 million Nigerians will enter poverty if adequate measures are not put in place[1]. Explicitly, the poll revealed that 37 percent of respondents stated that they were dissatisfied with the year because of the economic hardship and hunger they experienced in the year 2023.  While 22 percent of the respondents stated high inflation as the reason for their dissatisfaction, 17 percent stated things not working well as a reason for their dissatisfaction with the year 2023. Other factors attributed to the dissatisfaction of Nigerians include poor economy (5 percent), and bad leadership (4 percent). Fuel subsidy issues, food insecurity, and worsened insecurity all tied at 3 percent, with scarcity of cash (2 percent), and irregular power supply at (1 percent). On the flip side, 34 percent of respondents claimed that they were satisfied with the year 2023. Of the 34 percent who expressed satisfaction, 29 percent stated that ‘they thank God for life’, 16 percent stated ‘because the government is trying their best’, and 11 percent stated, ‘my business has improved’. Other reasons adduced by respondents include ‘security is gradually improving and ‘prompt payment of salaries both tied at 7 percent, ‘slight improvement in electricity supply (3 percent), and improved infrastructure (2 Percent) amongst other reasons put forward by respondents. It is important to highlight that 34 percent of Nigerians still find reasons to be satisfied with the year 2023 despite the challenges a lot of Nigerians experienced over the year. This can be attributed to the unwavering, unflinching, resolute, and undying spirit of Nigerians in the face of hard times which should be commended and applauded. Regardless, the government must pay attention to areas highlighted by Nigerians that made them dissatisfied with the year 2023. These include hunger and economic hardship, high inflation and things not working well, as well as a poor economy to improve the living conditions of Nigerians in the coming year 2024. These are key highlights from the End of Year Poll conducted in the week commencing December 18th, 2023. BACKGROUND Christmas and New Year festivities over the world always climax at the end of the year, and usher in the new year in a dynamic and celebratory mood. Christmas day which is observed every 25th December is set aside as a day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ by Christians and use the day to share love and care to loved ones and the needy among them. The days after Christmas up to the new year are also days to celebrate and thank God for life, the gift of friends and families. Many Nigerians use this period to travel to the countryside to visit their families and relations with re-uniting intentions, others use the period to reflect on the outgoing year, especially in areas they will need to work hard to have a better year ahead. However, due to the economic challenges occasioned by the effects of the fuel subsidy removal which ultimately led to a high cost of transportation, a lot of Nigerians did not travel this year, 2023. Also, the high cost of food items has made a lot of Nigerians celebrate Christmas low-key with hopes that the government will expedite actions in tackling the many socio-economic issues currently plaguing the Country. Most Nigerians are looking up to the new year with optimism and hope that they will experience a turn-around of things at the earliest so that they can breathe a sigh of relief and experience a new lease of life. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls surveyed to seek the views of Nigerians regarding how they fared in the year and their aspirations for the new year and hereby presents its findings. Survey Findings The first question gauged the level of satisfaction of respondents with the year 2023, thus asked respondents’ satisfaction with the year 2023. The poll result revealed that most Nigerians (66 percent) asserted that they were not satisfied with the year 2023. Analysis by geo-political zone revealed that the North-East zone (76 percent) had the highest proportion of Nigerians who made this assertion. Also, with regards to age group, the analysis showed that the level of dissatisfaction is highest among respondents within the age group of 36-60 (68 percent). On the other hand, 34 percent of the respondents mentioned that they are satisfied with the year 2023, and Nigerians living in the North-West zone (41 percent) had more respondents who stated this. Subsequently, 66 percent of the respondents who stated that they were dissatisfied were further probed and analysis showed the 4 major areas Nigerians expressed dissatisfaction with include hunger and economic hardship, increased inflation, things not working well, and poor economy. Specifically, the poll revealed that 37 percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction mostly because of the ‘economic hardship and hunger’ they faced this year. Also, 22 percent mentioned ‘increased inflation’, 17 specified ‘due to things not working well’ and 5 percent attributed their dissatisfaction to the ‘poor economy’ in the country. Other reasons mentioned are ‘bad leadership’ (4 percent), ‘fuel subsidy issue’, ‘food insecurity’, and ‘worsened insecurity’ all tied at (3 percent), ‘scarcity of cash’ (2 percent), and ‘irregular power supply’ (1 percent). On the contrary, respondents who expressed satisfaction with the current year stated the top 4 reasons for their satisfaction are: ‘the gift of life’ (39 percent), ‘the government is trying their best’ (16 percent), ‘business has improved’ (11 percent) and ‘some sectors of the economy have improved’ (9 percent).  Other reasons presented include ‘security is gradually improving’, ‘prompt payment of salaries/promotions’ both tied at (7 percent), ‘slight improvement in electricity supply’ (3 percent), ‘improved infrastructure’ and ‘improved job creation both tied’ at (2 percent) while 1 percent stated that there is no reason for their satisfaction with the year. Conclusion In conclusion, the poll result reveals that a large proportion of respondents (66 percent) are dissatisfied with the year 2023 highlighting key areas of their dissatisfaction which include hunger and economic hardship (37 percent), increased inflation (22 percent), things are not working well (17 percent) and poor economy (5 percent). These areas highlighted by respondents are critical for the survival of Nigerians. They will require the government of the day and relevant stakeholders to expedite actions, which include poverty reduction, job creation, and consistent economic growth in tackling these challenges so that Nigerians will experience a new lease of life in the coming year 2024. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing December 18th, 2023. 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 that 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.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/06/28/world-bank-four-million-more-nigerians-pushed-into-poverty-in-first-six-months-of-2023

Abuja, Nigeria. November 7th, 2023 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that majority (70 percent) of adult Nigerians nationwide often go hungry because there is not enough food. However, 28 percent of Nigerians interviewed attributed the major cause of the food insecurity crisis in Nigeria to Farmer-Herder clashes. Similarly, 16 percent linked the situation to unemployment. This corroborates with the publication of Relief Web, a humanitarian information service provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), that the food security situation in Nigeria has over the years been impacted especially by violent conflicts, including the insurgency in the North-East; armed banditry in the Northwest; perennial farmer – herder conflicts in the North-central[1]. According to the publication, other factors contributing to food insecurity include rising unemployment, engendering, and compounding cost-of-living crisis, with deleterious effects on the conditions of living of citizens, and their ability to access food[2]. In addition, 12 percent of Nigerians interviewed cited bad leadership among other factors that have mostly impacted the food insecurity crisis in Nigeria. More findings revealed that most Nigerians (89 percent) affirmed they worry about whether the food they will buy will be enough. In the same vein, 88 percent of Nigerians interviewed stated that they worry about whether the food they buy will run out before they get money to buy more. Furthermore, 81 percent affirmed they cut the size of their meal because they or their family member did not have enough food. Still in the affirmative, 80 percent revealed that they eat the same food several days in a row because they have just a few different kinds of food on hand and do not have money to buy more. Sadly, 49 percent of Nigerians interviewed also stated they had gone to bed hungry at some point because they could not afford to buy food while 40 percent stated that they did not eat because their family did not have enough money for food. With regards to recommendations on how the Federal Government can improve food security in Nigeria, 26 percent advocated that the Federal Government should tackle insecurity. Other suggestions include Improving agricultural Policy (14 percent), opening all closed borders (12 percent), Reducing fuel prices (9 percent), Creating job opportunities (7 percent), and Address Climate Change (7 percent) amongst others. These are some of the key findings from the food security Poll conducted in the week commencing 23rd October 2023. Background Food security, as defined by the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. It is also the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food[3]. The key drivers to the food insecurity crisis in Nigeria have been linked to consistent violent crises, climate change, inflation, and rising food prices. A January 2023 Press Release by UNICEF reiterates that food access has been affected by persistent violence in the north-east states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY), and armed banditry and kidnapping in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue, and Niger[4]. The reports also show that children are the most vulnerable to food insecurity with approximately 6 million of the 17 million food-insecure Nigerians today being children under 5 living in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara states. These North-Eastern States are hotspots for insecurity and malnutrition. According to the November 2022 World Food Programme Nigeria, WFP report, poor feeding practices and worsening food insecurity have continued to loom heavily. Ranking 163rd on the Human Development Index (HDI) for the second year in a row, Nigeria has also experienced the worst flooding in a decade, further eroding chances for improved food security among the most vulnerable[5]. Flooding occasioned by the prevalence of climate change in the country has largely impacted the availability and affordability of food resulting in the undesirable challenge of food insecurity. A report of the National Emergencies Management Agency [NEMA] shows, that the 2022 floods led to the destruction and washing away of over 675,000 hectares of farmland. One can only imagine the extent of the impact of this scale of destruction of farmlands on agricultural activities and food production across the country. Farmers, the majority of whom are small-scale farmers, lost not only crops and harvests, but also farm animals, poultry, fishery, and farm implements to the raging floods[6]. Regrettably, in 2022, countries that are highly dependent on food imports have seen a spike in food inflation, as the war in Ukraine and associated supply shortages caused sharp price hikes for wheat and other staples on top of high fuel and transportation costs resulting in a deterioration in food security. The prices of staple food in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have surged by an average of 23.9 percent in 2020-22 (Okou, Spray, and Unsal, 2022)[7]. It is against these backgrounds that have impacted negatively on the health, nutrition, and socio-economic lives of Nigerians that NOIPolls surveyed to feel the pulse of Nigerians regarding food security. Survey Findings The first question sought to gauge the opinion of respondents on what food insecurity is. The survey result revealed that a greater percentage (51 percent) of adult Nigerians nationwide affirmed that they know what food insecurity. On the other hand, 49 percent of the respondents stated otherwise. When asked if they think there is food insecurity in Nigeria. Findings show that the vast majority (90 percent) of the respondents answered in the affirmative with the North-East and North-West both (93 percent) having the highest proportion of respondents who made the assertion. However, 8 percent stated otherwise. Furthermore, a couple of statements that bother on food availability and feeding patterns were read to respondents in which they were asked to reply either ‘’yes’’ or ‘’no’’. Analysis shows that most of the respondents (89 percent) affirmed that they worry about whether the food they can afford to buy will be enough. Similarly, 88 percent worry about whether the food will run out before getting money to buy more. 81 percent of adult Nigerians interviewed reveal that they cut down the size of meals because they or their family did not have enough money for food. Further findings show that 80 percent of respondents affirmed they eat the same food for several days in a row because they lack money to buy varieties of food. Moreso, 70 percent lamented that they go hungry due to a lack of food. Additionally, 49 percent disclosed that they went to bed hungry because there was not enough money to buy food. When asked if they didn’t eat a whole day because their family did not have enough money for food, 40 percent also answered in the affirmative. Subsequently, when asked which factor has mostly impacted the food insecurity crisis in Nigeria, 28 percent pointed out insecurity (banditry/farmer-herders clashes), followed by unemployment (16 percent) and bad leadership (12 percent). Other factors mentioned are increment in fuel price/fuel subsidy (9 percent), increased transportation fare (8 percent), and amongst others. Additionally, adult Nigerians were asked to give recommendations on how food insecurity should be tackled, and findings show that 26 percent suggested that the government should tackle security, 14 percent advised that the government should improve agricultural policy, open all closed borders (12 percent), reduce fuel price (9 percent). Other suggestions include creating jobs (7 percent), addressing climate change (7 percent), mechanized farming (5 percent), price control/regulation (5 percent), other recommendations include encouraging people to go into farming (4 percent), subsidize agricultural input (3 percent), and encourage good governance (2 percent). Conclusion In conclusion, findings have shown that 51 percent of Nigerians interviewed know what food security is. Similarly, 90 percent affirmed that there is food insecurity in Nigeria with 28 percent citing herder-farmers clashes/insurgency as the top-most factor that has impacted food security in the country, followed by unemployment (16 percent) and bad leadership (14 percent) among others. To end the food security crisis in Nigeria, survey findings show that tackling insecurity (26 percent), improving agricultural policy (14 percent), and opening all closed borders (12 percent), were the top-mentioned recommendations for how food security could be improved in the country. Survey Methods The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing October 23rd, 2023. 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 that 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: Tel: +234 (0) 813 547 4512 +234 (0) 813 749 6113 [1]https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/state-emergency-declaration-food-security-policy-brief-august-2023 [2]https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/state-emergency-declaration-food-security-policy-brief-august-2023 [3]https://www.google.com/search?q=food+security+definition&oq=food+security&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgCEAAYgAQyDwgAEEUYOxiDARixAxiABDIMCAEQRRg7GLEDGIAEMgcIAhAAGIAEMgYIAxBFGEAyBwgEEAAYgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyBwgGEAAYgAQyBwgHEAAYgATSA [4] 25 million Nigerians at high risk of food insecurity in 2023 (unicef.org) [5] docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000145610/download/ [6] https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/state-emergency-declaration-food-security-policy-brief-august-2023 [7] Food Insecurity in Nigeria: Food Supply Matters: Nigeria (imf.org)