Poll show Nigeria protests centred on economic hardship

An opinion poll released by NOI Polls has revealed that 67% of Nigerians support the recent protests in the country, with their motivation primarily centered around the increasing economic hardship. Bell Ihua, the CEO of NOI Polls, discussed the key findings of the poll during a recent interview. The poll aimed to distinguish between politically motivated protests and genuine concerns from the Nigerian populace. The results showed that a significant majority of Nigerians, 67%, supported the "I Stand with Nigeria" campaign, citing economic issues as the primary reason for their support. Among the key economic concerns highlighted were economic hardship, hunger, high cost of goods and services, unemployment, and the need for true positive change. On the other hand, a third of the population expressed opposition to the campaign, with reasons ranging from belief in the government's efforts to skepticism about the effectiveness of protests in solving economic problems. The poll results underscored the widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians regarding the state of the economy and the perceived lack of positive change under the current administration. Despite some support for the government's efforts and calls for more time to effect change, a majority of respondents felt that the promised transformation had not materialized. The findings also shed light on regional disparities, with the North East region experiencing the most severe impacts of economic hardship. Recommendations from Nigerians included measures to revive the economy, implement price control mechanisms, create job opportunities, and consider changes in the government's cabinet. The protest highlighted the deep-seated grievances among the populace and the urgent need for concrete actions to address the economic challenges facing the country.