A new nationwide poll has revealed a crisis of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, with 83 per cent of Nigerians saying they have lost trust in the federal government, nearly two years into his presidency.
The findings were released in the Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey 2025 conducted by the Africa Polling Institute (API).
The report paints a grim picture of public opinion, showing widespread disillusionment across the country over the government’s handling of key national issues—ranging from the economy and insecurity to corruption and governance.
According to API, the survey was based on 5,465 face-to-face interviews across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, targeting citizens aged 15 and above. The data was gathered using a stratified random sampling technique to ensure fair representation of Nigeria’s diverse population.
During a press briefing in Abuja, API’s Executive Director, Dr Bell Ihua, described the results as a serious warning sign for the country’s democracy.
“The social contract is clearly under stress. Nigerians no longer feel represented, heard, or protected,” he said.
The report comes amid growing economic hardship and insecurity across the country.
Nigerians say the cost of living has become unbearable, with many blaming President Tinubu’s economic reforms—including the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023—for worsening inflation and poverty. The naira now trades for about ₦1,500 to $1, up from around ₦1,000 at the time Tinubu took office, while the prices of basic goods and services have more than tripled.
Despite promises under the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to restore faith in government and uplift the poor, the reality for many Nigerians has been the opposite.
Food prices are at record highs, unemployment remains above 33 per cent, and over 133 million Nigerians are now considered multidimensionally poor, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also shows that insecurity has worsened in parts of the country.
It is not just the presidency that Nigerians have lost faith in. The National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, is also facing public scepticism.
The API survey found that 82 per cent of Nigerians have little or no confidence in the legislature.
Akpabio is currently enmeshed in a sexual assault scandal, while Abbas has faced criticism for what many describe as a lack of proactive leadership in the House of Representatives.
The judiciary, too, scored poorly in public perception. According to the survey, 79 per cent of Nigerians do not trust the judicial system to deliver fair outcomes or cleanse itself of corruption.
Public suspicion deepened after Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, was reportedly denied a US visa following her controversial ruling that declared Hope Uzodimma of the APC as the winner of the 2019 Imo State governorship election, even though he came fourth according to the results declared by INEC.
The judiciary’s reputation has also been shadowed by past allegations against Justice Kayode Ariwoola, Ms Kekere-Ekun’s predecessor, further fuelling public perception that the courts serve political interests more than justice.
The API report further notes that over 72 per cent of Nigerians feel marginalised or excluded from national decision-making. Many believe that political appointments, contracts, and government benefits are disproportionately shared among a select few, often along ethnic or party lines.
This feeling of exclusion, particularly among young people and minority groups, is contributing to rising political frustration and a growing desire for a change of leadership.
Many of those surveyed expressed support for the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is positioning itself as a fresh alternative to the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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