Abuja, Nigeria – January 6th, 2025 – A new public opinion poll released by NOIPolls has revealed that the top three key areas Nigerians want the government to focus its attention on in 2025 include Agriculture (53 percent), Better economic policies (42 percent) and Security (35 percent). An emphasis on Agriculture is expected given the global food crisis and the food inflation in Nigeria in recent years. Ensuring food security for the country’s increasing population is critical to sustainable development.
Other areas Nigerians want the government to focus on to resolve the challenges include reducing fuel prices (26 percent), infrastructural development (21 percent), electricity supply (20 percent), as well as empowerment and job creation (16 percent). Also mentioned are education (10 percent), economy/cost of living (9 percent), and health care (7 percent) amongst others.
The agricultural sector has continued to be the bedrock and mainstay of Nigeria’s economy contributing 23.69 percent of her GDP in 2022[1]. It approximately employs 30 percent of the country’s workforce and contributes immensely to the food production of the country[2]. It also contributes significantly to raw material production for industries in the country. With the recent allocation of N132bn by the Federal Government as disclosed in the 2025 Appropriation Bill to support farmers and farming activities in 2025, Nigerians might have some relief in the new year.
As regards economic policies, the removal of fuel subsidies alone in the country resulted in a myriad of economic backlashes in the country, chief of which is the high inflation rate which stood at 34.6 percent, the highest in the last 28 years according to the National Bureau of Statistics[3]. The heightened inflation resulted in prices of food items and other everyday commodities skyrocketing almost beyond the reach of the common man. According to the NBS, food inflation stood at 39.9 percent, the highest in recent memory, resulting in 2 out of every 3 families going hungry every day[4].
The last decade witnessed the increasing emergence of insurgencies and criminal groups whose activities transcend regional borders. This gives credence to Nigerians' security concerns. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, between May 2023 and April 2024, over 614,000 people lost their lives due to insecurity in Nigeria with the North-West region being the worst hit with over 200,000 deaths[5] and a whooping sum of over 2.2 trillion naira paid in Ransom within the same period under review[6]. Hence the government should intensify its efforts in securing the Nigerian state and Nigerians as no nation can achieve significant development amidst insecurity and terrorism.
With regards to the aforementioned areas of priority, it is expedient that the Nigerian government expedite actions to holistically address the concerns of Nigerians so that Nigerians will experience a sigh of relief and a new lease of life in the new year.
These are some highlights from the New Year Poll conducted in the week commencing December 16th, 2024.
Survey Background
People from all walks of life look forward to the emergence of the New Year with nostalgia and euphoria amidst gratefulness for how the out-going year pan out and with optimism that the New Year will bring greater fortune and astounding success. Many see it as a time of reflection, reminiscence, and readjustments of their life’s objectives to make amends where necessary and consolidate on areas they achieved success.
Most people observe the New Year holiday as an opportunity for festivities and reconnecting with friends and family for bonding. However, the New Year is not just about celebrations but also a time to reflect, plan, and start the journey toward achieving dreams. It is also a period to unite people with a shared sense of hope and happiness for the year ahead[7]. It inspires individuals to plan personal or professional goals, leave behind negativity, and embrace positivity, gratitude, and kindness, a panacea for greater success.
Nigerians are celebrating the New Year with hope and optimism that the New Year will bring good tidings to them seeing the outgone year was economically challenging due to high inflation occasioned by increased fuel prices. Will there be a reduction in the inflation figures? Will there be better economic prospects in the New Year? Will prices of items reduce in the coming year and will Nigerians heave a sigh of relief as the year unfolds? These and many more will be the questions running through the minds of Nigerians. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls surveyed to find out the views of Nigerians regarding their expectations for the New Year and hereby presents its findings.
Survey Findings
Nigerians were asked the top three areas they want the government to focus its attention on in 2025 and the poll revealed that the three top include Agriculture (53 percent), Better economic policies (42 percent), and Security (35 percent). Other areas Nigerians want the government to prioritize include reducing fuel prices (26 percent), infrastructure development (21 percent), electricity supply (20 percent), empowerment/job creation (16 percent), education (10 percent), economy/cost of living (9 percent), health care (7 percent), bilateral relation (3 percent), exchange rate (2 percent) while 7 percent stated they preferred not to say.
Conclusion
From the survey, Nigerians stated what they want the government to pay attention to as the year unfolds: Agriculture, better economic policies, and security. These areas stand to bring a new lease of life to Nigerians if given the utmost attention necessary. For instance, the agricultural sector has the propensity to revamp the country’s ailing and oil-dependent economy to a more vibrant and robust one which can bring in the much-needed foreign exchange while creating jobs for the teeming populace in dire need of a source of livelihood. Concentrating on these highlighted areas will bring needed socio-economic transformation for Nigerians for a better and more prosperous 2025.
Survey Methods
The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing December 16th, 2024. It involved telephone interviews of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions 36 states, and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained were statistically precise – within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%; we recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has its limitation of excluding non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele density put over 100 percent by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomization and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited, No. 1 for country-specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com.
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as authors whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited, or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect the views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or facts, or any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken because of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions, or views herein constitute a judgment as of the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls' current findings and/or thinking.
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[1]https://www.statista.com/statistics/382311/nigeria-gdp-distribution-across-economic sectors/#:~:text=Distribution%20of%20gross%20domestic%20product%20(GDP)%20across%20economic%20sectors%20Nigeria%202022&text=In%202022%2C%20agriculture%20contributed%20around,percent%20from%20the%20services%20sector.
[5] with the North West region the worst hit with over 200,000 death
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