Abuja, Nigeria – A new survey by the Africa Polling Institute (API) has revealed that an overwhelming 83% of Nigerians do not trust the government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the National Assembly and the Judiciary.
The findings, published in the 2024 NigeriaTrust Index, highlight growing public dissatisfaction and a deepening trust gap between citizens and key democratic institutions.
According to the report, trust in the three arms of government—Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary—remains critically low, with only 17% of respondents expressing confidence in their performance and integrity.
Other key highlights from the nationwide survey include:
The Nigerian Police Force was ranked the least trusted institution, with just 6% approval.
Political rties received a low trust rating of 15%.
In contrast, religious institutions were trusted by 44%, while traditional leaders earned 41%.
The survey sampled 1,437 respondents across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones using stratified random sampling, ensuring a balanced demographic spread
Speaking on the findings, Dr. Bell Ihua, Executive Director of API, described the situation as a “clear warning sign.”
“The results indicate a growing democratic deficit. Nigerians are losing confidence in public institutions, and this poses a serious challenge to national cohesion and governance,” Dr. Ihua said.
Analysts have called on the Tinubu administration and other stakeholders to urgently restore public confidence through transparency, reforms, and more inclusive governance practices.