Survey indicates corruption, crime as Nigerians’ major challenges

A nation-wide survey, Pulse of the Nation, conducted by leading research agency, TNS RMS has indicated that corruption, crime, terrorism and breakdown of law and order are major headaches for Nigerians.

Other issues troubling Nigerians are poor infrastructure, inflation, education and healthcare. This view, according to the research, is prominent across all sampled states.

According to the research conducted in six key states representing Nigeria’s geo-political regions, Nigerians also expressed dissatisfaction on government’s efforts at providing social amenities like electricity, security and employment.

From the survey, majority of respondents (39%) say government is not responsive to their needs such as employment, electricity, amenities, security, electricity, economic development. This sentiment was mentioned prominently across sampled states.

For instance, about 46 percent of respondents are indifferent about NEPA/PHCN’s performance. A quarter (25%) say electricity performance has been stagnant. Respondents in Kano, Ibadan and Kano say the performance of NEPA is now worse, while 39 percent in Lagos and 32 percent in Kano say NEPA’s performance remains the same. Only 4 percent of respondents say NEPA is performing satisfactorily.

There was mixed feelings regarding the performance of the Nigerian economy. Only 2 percent of respondents say the economy is performing satisfactorily, close to a third (28%) say it is somewhat performing well, while 29 percent say it has been stagnant – stayed the same. 41 percent of respondents say the economy’s performance is now worse than before.

Less than a third of respondents (26%) say government is responsive to their needs (employment, electricity, amenities, security, electricity, economic development). This was mainly driven by respondents in Abuja (39%) who are satisfied with government responsiveness to their needs.

Respondents are satisfied with government performance on healthcare, education, food security and provision of petroleum products.

On the state of emergency, 73 percent of respondents support the president’s decision in declaring state of emergency in three states in Northern Nigeria.