Report: National Assembly overtakes Police, emerges least trusted institution in Nigeria

The National Assembly has emerged as Nigeria’s least trusted public institution, overtaking the Nigeria Police Force, according to the newly released 2026 Social Cohesion Report by the Africa Polling Institute (API).

The report, unveiled at the weekend during a National Social Cohesion Dialogue in Abuja, revealed that 77 per cent of Nigerians expressed little or no trust in the National Assembly, placing it at the bottom of the country’s trust rankings.

Presenting the findings, API Executive Director, Prof. Bell Ihua, disclosed that Nigeria’s Social Cohesion Index (NSCI) stood at 48.8 per cent, representing a two-percentage-point improvement from the previous survey and the highest score recorded since the study began. Despite the improvement, the index remains slightly below the 50 per cent benchmark considered indicative of strong social cohesion.

Prof. Ihua said the findings suggest that Nigerians continue to demonstrate resilience and a willingness to coexist despite the country’s economic and social challenges.

The survey also showed that 72 per cent of respondents expressed little or no trust in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, while 73 per cent said they had little confidence in the judiciary.

In contrast, religious and traditional leaders remained the most trusted institutions, with 51 per cent and 45 per cent of respondents respectively expressing significant confidence in them.

The survey was conducted between January and February 2025 with support from the Ford Foundation. API interviewed 5,315 Nigerians aged 15 and above across all states and senatorial districts using face-to-face household interviews conducted in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

According to the report, 46 per cent of Nigerians said they are proud to be Nigerians, while 44 per cent identified equally with their ethnic group and Nigerian nationality. Another 29 per cent said they identified more with their ethnic group than with the country.

On civic participation, 71 per cent of respondents said they were willing to make personal sacrifices for Nigeria’s collective good, while 77 per cent expressed readiness to work with people from other ethnic groups to promote national unity.

The report also found strong public support for gender inclusion. About 69 per cent of Nigerians agreed that women should occupy leadership positions in politics and business, while 60 per cent said they would vote for a female presidential candidate.

However, concerns over national unity persist. Nearly 48 per cent of respondents believed Nigeria is more divided today than it was four years ago, with political party affiliation identified as the leading cause of division, followed by ethnic and religious differences.

On migration, 55 per cent of Nigerians said they would relocate abroad with their families if given the opportunity, although 61 per cent remained optimistic that the country’s future would improve.

API recommended the establishment of a National Social Cohesion Commission to promote national unity, inclusive governance, trust in institutions, civic participation and peaceful coexistence.

The institute also called for the creation of Social Cohesion Desks across government ministries, departments and agencies to ensure public policies strengthen national integration and social stability.

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