Nigerians' Attention Turns Toward Economy.
Byline: Jay Loschky
Synopsis: As Nigerians see some progress in their country's efforts to tackle terrorism and corruption, their eyes are focusing more sharply on their economy, which they say is the most important issue for the government to address.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As a candidate, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari staked his campaign on twin pledges to destroy the Boko Haram terror group and root out corruption. A former general who once jailed hundreds of officials in anti-graft drives as head of state in the 1980s, some viewed Buhari as uniquely qualified to tackle both crises. Two years into his presidential term, Nigerians see significant progress on both fronts, but an increasing majority (59%) say the economy should now be the government's top priority.
Military gains against Boko Haram and several high-profile corruption cases in the past two years have helped to shift the public's emphasis toward the country's economy, which slipped into recession in 2016 on the heels of falling oil prices. In the past two years, the percentages of Nigerians who say corruption or terrorism should be the government's top priority have dropped, as more prioritized the economy.
Although Nigeria officially emerged from its recession in the second quarter of 2017 with a still sluggish 0.6% annual GDP growth, more than half of Nigerians (54%) say that it is a "bad time" to find a job in the city or area where they live. Similarly, the majority are dismal about their local economic conditions, with 29% characterizing them as "poor," and 32% saying they are "only fair."
Smaller Majority See Corruption as Widespread
Long one of the countries where residents are most likely to perceive corruption as widespread throughout their government, Nigeria is set to slide down the rankings in 2017. After reaching as high as 95% in 2015 -- highest among 131 countries Gallup measured that year -- four in five (80%) now perceive corruption to be widespread in government. This is the lowest level since Gallup began measuring in 2007.
While former governors, judges, government ministers and generals have been among those arrested on corruption charges since Buhari took office in 2015, the president has also faced accusations that he has carefully selected the targets of his war on corruption and spared powerful political allies. Between 2016 and 2017, the view that government corruption is widespread fell from 82% to 74% among those who express confidence in the...
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