BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey 2025 report, conducted by the Africa Polling Institute (API), has shown a significant decline in in the trust and confidence Nigerians have for both the government and public institutions tin the country.
This was as the survey indicated that a staggering 83 per cent of Nigerians expressed little to no trust in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Similar feelings were expressed for the National Assembly, as the poll showed that 82 per cent have low trust in the legislative body under President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and also the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The poll also indicated that the judiciary faced serious public distrust as 79 per cent of the respondents declared that they have very little or no confidence in the third arm of government that ought to serve as a check on the Executive and Legislative arms of government. Curiously, the polls covered the tenures of both immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola and present holder of the office, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Compared to previous editions of the survey (2019, 2021, and 2022), the 2025 data revealed that the trust and public confidence Nigerians have for political office holders and public institutions are at the lowest ebb.
The API report which was unveiled at the weekend in Abuja, specifically highlighted a weak state of social cohesion in Nigeria, with the index standing at 46.8 per cent.
It further revealed a growing sense among Nigerians of being united in a shared struggle, particularly with regards to their daily lives and the negative impact of harsh and biting economic difficulties.
While the poll was being conducted, Nigerians consistently pointed to economic hardship that included, high costs of transportation, goods and services, and a lack of economic prosperity under the President Tinubu administration while public office holders and political appointees are living larger than life in the face of the sufferings people are experiencing.
API conducted poll that was carried out in all states of the federation this nationwide was predicated on Citizens Perception Survey (CPS) and was supported by the Ford Foundation between January and February 2025.
In all, the poll undertook and interviewed 5,465 face-to-face household using a Stratified Random Sampling technique, and engaging citizens aged 15 and above.
The Interviews were conducted in five major languages that included; English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, with geographic quotas ensuring proportional representation from all states and senatorial districts.
A key finding from the 2025 survey clearly showed that about 53 per cent of Nigerians feel “greatly disappointed in the federal government of Nigeria.
