Economic hardship, hunger top list of reasons Nigerians are dissatisfied with 2020
Abuja, Nigeria. December 22nd, 2020 – A new public opinion poll released by NOIPolls has revealed that majority of Nigerians (70 percent) asserted that they are not satisfied with the year 2020 in all aspects. Analysis by geo-political zone revealed that the South-West zone had the highest number of Nigerians who made this assertion. According the poll there are four major areas of shortfalls in the country namely: economic hardship, Security, unemployment rate and stagnant educational system, which informed their being dissatisfied with the year 2020. Specifically, poll revealed that 30 percent of the respondents disclosed that they are dissatisfied mostly because of the economic hardship and hunger they faced this year. Also, 19 percent mentioned high increase in prices of goods and services, 17 specified that it was due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic while 11 percent attributed their dissatisfaction to high cost of living in the country. Other reason mentioned are ‘high rate of unemployment’ (9 percent), ‘high rate of insecurity’ (7 percent), ‘stand still in the educational sector’ (4 percent) and that the ‘government has failed us’ (3 percent).
On the contrary, out of the 30 percent who claimed that they were satisfied, 29 percent mentioned ‘God’s sustenance despite COVID-19 pandemic’, 24 percent said ‘I am alive and healthy’, 16 percent stated ‘healthcare has improved’ while 13 percent cited that ‘certain expectation came through this year’. This implies that despite the negative impacts of COVID-19 in Nigeria the poll suggests that about a-third (30 percent) of Nigerians nationwide do have some positive assertions about year 2020 – the most interesting thing from this category of respondent is their perceived improvement in Nigeria’s sector health sector and massive development in the agricultural sector.
Consequently, the poll assessed the opinion of Nigerians regarding how well we have fared as nation in certain areas with regards to the year 2020. Hence, the analysis of results revealed that the Economy, Security and the Education sectors took the hardest hit as at least 75 percent of Nigerians are of the opinion that the nation has not fared well in the areas of: Economy, Security and Education. Specifically, 82 percent of Nigerians stated that the nation has not fared well in the area of the economy, more so, 78 percent of Nigerians asserted that the country has not fared well in the area of security and 75 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that the country has not fared well in the area of Education.
Finally, the poll having assessed the perception and the opinions of Nigerians regarding 2020, Nigerians mentioned four key areas of shortfalls in the country: economic hardship, Security, unemployment rate and stagnant educational system, which informed their being dissatisfied with the year 2020. Concerning areas of focus where the citizenry think that the nations has not fared well in the 2020, the poll also revealed that the Economy, Security and Education sectors are the hardest hit or poorly performing sectors with at least about 75 percent of Nigerians across all regions affirming this. Therefore, the poll having highlighted these hardest hit sectors, it is important that government and stakeholders in all three sectors highlighted herein move quickly to address all the challenges inhibiting the growth of this three sectors and drive growth in these sectors in the year ahead. These are the key highlights from the End of Year Poll conducted in the week commencing December, 14th 2020.
Survey Background
End of the year for a typical Nigerian is a period for different celebrations, with diverse festivities ranging from parties to carnivals, social gatherings, family/school reunions, cultural fairs to annual sporting and art events, etc. To some Nigerians, it is a time to reflect on what they have achieved thus far and what to expect in the coming year.
However, the year 2020 is particularly a unique year given the impact of Coronavirus on the livelihoods of the citizenry as a result of measures that were put in place by government reduce the spread of the virus. Against this backdrop, NOIPolls conducted a survey to gauge the perceptions and opinions of Nigerians regarding the year 2020 as a whole.
Survey Findings
Given that 2020 is a unique and eventful year, the first question gauged the level of satisfaction of the respondents. The poll result revealed that majority of Nigerians (70 percent) asserted that they are not satisfied with the year 2020 as a whole. Analysis by geo-political zone revealed that the South-West zone represented that highest number of Nigerians who made this assertion. Also, with regards to age-group, analysis showed that the level of dissatisfaction increases as the age-group increased hence, Nigerians aged 60 and above had more respondents (76 percent) who were dissatisfied in this category.
On the other hand, 30 percent of the respondents mentioned that they are satisfied with the year 2020 as a whole and Nigerians living in the North-West zone had more respondents who stated this.
Subsequently, 70 percent of the respondent who stated that they were dissatisfied were further probed and analysis showed that there are 4 major categories of issues, such as economic hardship, Security, unemployment rate and stagnant educational system, which informed their being dissatisfied with the year 2020. Specifically, poll revealed that 30 percent of the respondents disclosed that they are dissatisfied mostly because of the economic hardship and hunger they faced this year. Also, 19 percent mentioned high increase in prices of goods and services, 17 specified that it was due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic while 11 percent attributed their dissatisfaction to high cost of living in the country. Other reason mentioned are ‘high rate of unemployment’ (9 percent), ‘high rate of insecurity’ (7 percent), ‘stand still in the educational sector’ (4 percent) and that the ‘government has failed us’ (3 percent).
On the contrary, respondents who mentioned that they are satisfied with current year stated the top 4 reasons for their satisfaction were: ‘God’s sustenance despite COVID-19 pandemic’ (29 percent), ‘I’m alive and healthy’ (24 percent), ‘healthcare has improved’ (16 percent) and their ‘certain expectation came through’ (13 percent). This implies that despite the negative impacts of COVID-19 in Nigeria the poll suggests that about a-third (30 percent) of Nigerians nationwide do have some positive assertions about year 2020 – the most interesting thing from this category of respondent is their perceived improvement in Nigeria’s sector health sector and massive development in the agricultural sector. In their opinion the COVID-19 pandemic has forced our leadership to focus more on the lapses and gaps in the Nigerian health sector as well as make tremendous effort in the area of agricultural development in the current year.
Furthermore, the poll assessed the opinion of Nigerians regarding how well we have fared as nation in certain areas with regards to the year 2020. Hence, the analysis of results revealed that the Economy, Security and the Education sectors took the hardest hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; as at least 8 in 10 Nigerians nationwide are of the opinion that the nation has not fared well in the area of: Economy, Security and Education. Specifically, 82 percent (58 percent + 24 percent) of Nigerians stated that the nation has not fared well in the area of the economy, more so, 78 percent (58 percent + 20 percent) of Nigerians asserted that the country has not fared well in the area of security and 75 percent (46 percent + 29 percent) of Nigerians nationwide stated that the country has not fared well in the area of Education.
Additionally, 52 percent (31 percent + 21 percent) of Nigerians do not think that the nation has fared well in the areas of Electricity in the year 2020, furthermore, 50 percent (24 percent + 26 percent) of Nigerians nationwide stated that the nation has not fared well in the area of Agriculture and 59 percent (34 percent + 25 percent).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the poll has revealed that a larger proportion of Nigerians (70 percent) are dissatisfied with the year 2020 mainly due to four key areas of shortfalls in the country namely economic hardship, Security, unemployment rate and stagnant educational system. Concerning areas of focus where the citizenry think that the nations has not fared well in the 2020, the poll also revealed that the Economy, Security and Education sectors are the hardest hit sectors with at least about 75 percent of Nigerians across all regions affirming this. Therefore, the poll having highlighted these hardest hit sectors, it is imperative that government and stakeholders in all three sectors highlighted here move swiftly to address all the challenges obstructing the growth of this three sectors and drive growth in these sectors in the year ahead.
Survey Method
The poll was conducted in the week commencing December 14th, 2020. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%.
NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 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 or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone.
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published.
NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking.
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