Between January 28 and February 2, 2025, we ran several polls on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. These polls focused on trending topics in Nigeria, including politics, entertainment, and social issues. In total, we analyzed 15 polls with thousands of votes from Nigerians. This week’s topics included the divorce between 2Face and Annie Idibia, Speed Darlington’s gun attack, and talks about military extortion in the Southeastern states of Nigeria. The goal was to gather public opinions, turn them into data, and extract insights to help people and decision-makers understand what Nigerians think about key issues.
DATA ON HOW HIGH-PROFILE DIVORCES AFFECT PEOPLE’S VIEW OF MARRIAGE
Do you think high-profile divorces like 2face and Annie’s affect public perception of marriage and relationships?
Fig 1. Poll results on marriage and high-profile divorces
Celebrities have a big influence on people, especially in Nigeria, where fans closely follow their lives. When public figures like 2face and Annie Idibia face marital issues, it brings up conversations about love, trust, and commitment. In our poll, 39% of people said that high-profile divorces do affect how people see marriage, while 36% said they don’t care. Only 23% believed celebrity divorces don’t have an impact, and 2% were unsure. This shows that while many people think public breakups can change opinions about marriage, others either don’t care or believe marriage is personal.
WHAT PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT SPEED DARLINGTON’S GUN ATTACK AND HIS FEUD WITH BURNA BOY
Do you think Speed Darlington’s recent gun attack is linked to his public feud with Burna Boy?
Fig 2. Graph of opinions on Speed Darlington’s gun attack
Speed Darlington is known for his outspoken nature and online feuds, especially with fellow musician Burna Boy. When news broke that he was attacked with a gun, some Nigerians suspected it was related to his ongoing beef with Burna Boy. Our poll showed that 50% of voters believed the attack was connected to their fight, while 16% thought it wasn’t. Another 13% were unsure, and 21% simply didn’t care. This shows that while many people link the attack to the feud, others are sceptical or uninterested.
OPINIONS OF NIGERIANS ABOUT VICTOR BONIFACE’S POSSIBLE MOVE TO AL NASSR
Do you think Victor Boniface’s potential move to Al Nassr is a good decision for his career?
Fig 3. Visualization of reactions to Victor Boniface’s transfer
Victor Boniface is a rising football star, and reports of him possibly moving to Saudi club Al Nassr caused debates. Some believe the move would bring financial benefits, while others feel he should stay in Europe to develop his skills. In our poll, 65% of voters thought moving to Al Nassr would be a good decision, while 29% disagreed. Only 6% were unsure. This suggests that while many people support the move, a significant number worry about its impact on his career.
PUBLIC REACTION TO THE 21-YEAR JAIL TERM FOR CULTISTS IN EDO STATE
Do you think the new 21-year jail term will effectively reduce cultism in Edo state?
Fig 4. Public response to the 21-year jail term for cultists
Cultism has been a major issue in Edo State, leading to violence and insecurity. The government introduced a new law that punishes cultists with up to 21 years in prison. Our poll showed that 64% of people believe this law will help reduce cultism, while 20% think it won’t work. Another 16% were unsure. This means most Nigerians support the law, but some doubt whether stricter punishment will solve the problem.
DATA ON WHETHER NIGERIANS WANT KAYODE EGBETOKUN TO STEP DOWN AS IGP
Fig 5. Data on calls for IGP Kayode Egbetokun to resign
The role of the Inspector General of Police is crucial in maintaining security, but public trust in the police has been low. In our poll, 81% of people felt that Kayode Egbetokun should step down, while only 6% supported him staying in office. About 13% were unsure. This overwhelming response suggests that many Nigerians are unhappy with the current leadership of the police.
PUBLIC VIEWS ON OYO CIVIL SERVANTS WEARING ASO OKE ON THURSDAYS
Fig 6. Survey on Oyo civil servants wearing Aso Oke
Governor Seyi Makinde recently introduced a policy requiring civil servants in Oyo State to wear traditional Aso Oke fabric on Thursdays. The move was meant to promote culture and local businesses, but reactions were mixed. Our poll showed that 75% of people supported the idea, while 16% felt it should be optional. Another 9% said it was not a priority. This means that while most people like the idea, some believe it shouldn’t be compulsory.
WHAT NIGERIANS THINK ABOUT POLICE AND MILITARY EXTORTION IN THE SOUTH-EAST
Fig 7. Trends in opinions on police and military extortion
There have been allegations that security forces in the South-East collected illegal payments from motorists, amounting to ₦21.8 billion in just two months. This brought about outrage, and our poll showed that 77% of people believe the accusations are true. Meanwhile, 17% disagreed, and 6% were unsure. This result highlights the deep distrust Nigerians have towards law enforcement agencies.
HOW NIGERIANS FEEL ABOUT EX-APC POLITICIANS SUDDENLY CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT
Fig 8. Views on ex-APC politicians criticizing FG
Political debates in Nigeria often revolve around party loyalty. Some people believe that politicians who lose elections suddenly become vocal critics just to stay relevant. Our poll revealed that 96% of voters agreed that some former APC politicians are only pretending to care about the country now that they are out of power. Only 2% disagreed, while another 2% said they don’t follow politics. This shows that many Nigerians are sceptical about politicians’ intentions.
CONCERNS ABOUT CNG-POWERED BUSES AFTER THE FIRE ON 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE
Fig 9. Concerns over CNG buses after 3rd Mainland fire
After a CNG-powered (compressed natural gas) bus caught fire on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, people started questioning the safety of these buses. Our poll showed that 34% of voters believe CNG-powered buses are not a good option. Meanwhile, 27% think they just need better safety measures. Another 16% support them for being eco-friendly, while 24% have no idea. This means that while there are safety concerns, some people still believe in the benefits of CNG-powered transport.
REACTIONS TO JUSTICE LIMAN’S STATEMENT THAT “THERE IS NO OPPRESSION IN NIGERIA.”
Fig 10. Public sentiment on Justice Liman’s oppression claim
Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman is a respected Nigerian judge with a long career in law. His extensive experience has made him one of the senior judges in the Federal High Court of Nigeria. Justice Liman’s statement that “there is no oppression in Nigeria” was met with strong opposition. Our poll showed that 96% of voters disagreed with him, while only 4% were unsure. This indicates that a large majority of Nigerians feel that oppression exists in the country.
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE SULTAN OF SOKOTO’S SUPPORT FOR SHARIA IN THE SOUTH-WEST
Fig 11. Reactions to Sultan of Sokoto’s Sharia Support
For some time now, there have been talks about introducing Sharia Law in the South-Western States of Nigeria. The Sultan of Sokoto’s support for Sharia law in the South-West caused controversy. In our poll, 81% of voters believed that South-West youths were right to reject the idea, while 14% disagreed. Only 5% were unsure. This suggests that many Nigerians feel Sharia law should not be introduced in the region.
WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE FG INCREASING NYSC ALLOWANCE TO ₦77,000
Fig 12. Trust levels on FG increasing NYSC allowance
The Federal Government announced a possible increase in the NYSC allowance to ₦77,000, but many Nigerians were doubtful. Our poll showed that 72% of voters didn’t believe the news, while only 13% thought it would happen. Another 15% were unsure. This reflects a general lack of trust in government promises.
DATA ON WHETHER NIGERIA CAN ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL ENERGY ACCESS BY 2030
Fig 13. Graph on Nigeria’s energy access by 2030
Nigeria has been struggling with electricity issues for years. When asked if the country can achieve universal energy access by 2030, 74% of voters said no. Only 14% were optimistic, while 12% were unsure. This shows that most Nigerians do not believe the country will fix its power problems anytime soon.
OPINIONS OF NIGERIANS ON WHETHER YORUBA MUSLIMS FACE OPPRESSION
Fig 14. Chart of views on Yoruba Muslim oppression
There have been debates about whether Yoruba Muslims face discrimination in the South-West. Our poll showed that 59% of voters do not believe they are oppressed, while 37% think they are. Only 3% were unsure. This means that while most people think there is no oppression, a significant number feel otherwise.
WHAT NIGERIANS SAY ABOUT THE FG STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM
Fig 15. Poll data on FG student loan accessibility
The Federal Government’s student loan program has been in the news, but not everyone has received it. In our poll, 41% of voters said they had not received the loan, while 24% had applied. Only 21% had received it, and 15% knew someone who had. This suggests that while the program exists, many students are still waiting for their funds.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS WEEK’S POLLS
From the poll results, we can draw several key insights:
Many Nigerians believe high-profile celebrity divorces shape how people view marriage, showing the strong influence of public figures.
A majority think Speed Darlington’s gun attack could be linked to his feud with Burna Boy, highlighting public interest in celebrity conflicts.
Most Nigerians support Victor Boniface moving to Al Nassr, prioritizing financial benefits over career development concerns.
The new law punishing cultism with a 21-year jail term is widely supported, but some doubt its effectiveness.
Public trust in the police remains low, as most Nigerians want IGP Kayode Egbetokun to step down.
Governor Seyi Makinde’s policy on civil servants wearing Aso Oke on Thursdays is well-received, though some believe it should be optional.
The reported ₦21.8 billion extortion by security forces in the South-East fuels ongoing distrust in law enforcement.
Nigerians overwhelmingly believe ex-APC politicians criticize the government only after losing power, showing scepticism towards political motives.
Concerns about CNG-powered buses have grown following the fire incident on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, with safety being a major worry.
Justice Liman’s claim that there is no oppression in Nigeria was strongly rejected by the public, showing that many feel otherwise.
Most Nigerians oppose introducing Sharia law in the South-West, favouring the current legal system.
Scepticism surrounds the FG’s promise to increase the NYSC allowance to ₦77,000, reflecting a lack of trust in government commitments.
A majority believe Nigeria will not achieve universal energy access by 2030, highlighting doubts about the country’s power sector reforms.
The debate on Yoruba Muslim oppression remains divided, but most people do not believe there is discrimination.
Many students are still waiting for their FG student loans, raising concerns about accessibility and delays in the program.
These insights reflect the concerns, priorities, and opinions of Nigerians on key issues affecting the country.
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