83% doesn’t believe in Nigeria – NEW REPORT

The latest Citizens Perception Survey released by the Africa Polling Institute paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s state of social cohesion and public confidence in governance. With a social cohesion index of 46.8 per cent below the acceptable benchmark of 50 per cent, it is painfully clear that Nigeria is a nation spiraling into disillusionment and despair.

This deep erosion of trust in public institutions has far-reaching implications that threaten both the nation’s democratic health but and its socio-economic stability and development trajectory.

At the heart of this systemic breakdown is a gaping failure of leadership accountability and citizen-focused governance. According to the API report, 83 per cent of Nigerians have lost faith in the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The National Assembly and judiciary also fare no better, with 82 per cent and 79 per cent of respondents respectively expressing little or no trust in them. These statistics are not just numbers, they reflect a country dangerously close to the brink, with trust in its vital institutions now largely a relic of the past.

The sustainability implications of this data are severe. Trust is an essential pillar of any stable and enduring society. Without trust, development is stalled, CSR efforts are weakened, and public-private partnerships crumble under suspicion and cynicism. In such a climate, even the most well-meaning government or private sector initiative is met with apathy, suspicion, or outright hostility. The challenge before us is therefore not only economic but also moral and structural: how do we rebuild a sense of shared purpose between government, business, and the citizens?

The harsh economic policies implemented by the Tinubu administration, most notably the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy without safety nets have served only to deepen the chasm. While economic reform is often necessary for long-term sustainability, reform without inclusion is brutality by another name. The unintended consequences have been catastrophic: inflation at historic highs, food prices out of reach, transport unaffordable, and poverty exacerbated to intolerable levels. Many Nigerians now trek long distances to work, while car owners have effectively mothballed their vehicles due to fuel costs. The promise of renewed hope has translated into renewed hardship.

Honestly, this economic reality calls for a shift in how both the government and the private sector approach social investment. As multinationals like Diageo, Holcim, PZ Cussons, and Procter & Gamble exit the Nigerian market citing harsh conditions, we must ask ourselves: What is the sustainability model for doing business in Nigeria? And more importantly, what role should government policy play in enabling an environment where businesses can thrive and social value can be created?

The flight of these businesses is not just an economic story, it is a CSR crisis. Thousands have lost jobs, and millions more are at risk of losing livelihoods. The corporate sector, already overwhelmed by epileptic power, multiple taxation, and insecurity, is expected to step in where the state has failed, building schools, drilling boreholes, and providing social relief. But without an enabling environment, even CSR becomes unsustainable. It is high time the Nigerian government understood that a hostile business climate undermines not just the economy but the very scaffolding upon which inclusive, sustainable development can be built.

The statistics on food insecurity are damning. According to the World Bank, Nigeria saw a 28 per cent increase in people facing acute food shortages in 2023 alone. The United Nations places Nigeria among 13 global hunger hotspots. Even more harrowing are scenes of citizens being trampled to death while scrambling for palliatives. This is not just a failure of food security, it is a failure of foresight, planning, and accountability.

In addition, the absence of a comprehensive social safety net system represents a critical gap in Nigeria’s sustainability framework. CSR cannot substitute for a functional welfare state. The responsibility for addressing malnutrition, job losses, healthcare access, and basic needs cannot rest solely on the private sector. Government must take the lead in building resilient systems such as healthcare, agriculture, education that can carry the burden of a growing and increasingly frustrated population.

Rather than focus national resources on such urgent needs, the Tinubu administration and its enablers continue to project obscene levels of governmental opulence. The recent acquisition of a $150 million presidential aircraft, a N21 billion new residence for the Vice-President, and luxury convoys for members of the National Assembly allegedly worth N7 billion are not just tone-deaf, they are morally indefensible. They speak to a leadership elite that is disconnected from the pain of its people. If CSR is about responsibility, then what message do these purchases send to Nigerian youths who cannot find work, to parents who cannot feed their children, and to hospitals without basic drugs?

The legislative and judicial arms are not exempt. The National Assembly has functioned more as a rubber stamp than a check on executive excess. The judiciary, plagued by inconsistent rulings, forum shopping, and corruption allegations, offers little comfort to a nation in distress. Justice is increasingly seen not as blind, but as blindfolded by partisanship and power.

For Nigeria to move forward, there must be a recalibration of priorities. First, a serious effort must be made to create a cohesive national strategy that places food security, job creation, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods at the heart of governance. Security must be taken seriously not just in words but in concrete actions that make communities safe for farmers, businesses, and investors.

Second, CSR must be institutionalized beyond tokenism. The government should begin to see the private sector not as a rival but as a development partner. Through public-private partnerships focused on key sectors especially agriculture, health, and education, we can begin to build the resilient, inclusive systems necessary for a sustainable Nigeria.

Third, the government must earn back the trust of its people. This cannot be done through PR campaigns or presidential addresses. It must be done through transparency, fiscal discipline, ethical leadership, and policy consistency. Citizens want to see leaders who sacrifice with them, not live in luxury while the rest of the country suffers.

Finally, civil society and the media must continue to play their role as watchdogs and educators. At CSR Reporters, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying the voices of conscience, holding both the private and public sectors accountable, and ensuring that CSR is not an afterthought, but a central pillar of national recovery and sustainability.

Nigeria’s road to sustainability cannot be paved with rhetoric. It must be built on trust, responsibility, and shared sacrifice. Only then can we begin to heal the deep fractures in our national fabric and chart a future that works for all, not just the few.