Government approval is the single clearest summary of how a country feels about those in power — and in 2026 Nigeria's reading is sobering for the administration. Independent surveys have put presidential approval around the low 30s, with many respondents saying life has become harder. It is a mood shaped above all by money.
The numbers
One widely cited nationwide poll reported roughly 30% approval against a higher share who disapproved, with a majority reporting worsening living conditions. Coverage by The Guardian and Premium Times has tracked a public mood dominated by the cost of living, security and jobs.
Reforms with a long fuse
The government argues its reforms — the removal of the fuel subsidy, changes to the exchange rate — are painful but necessary, and the IMF has pointed to early signs of stabilisation. The political question is whether those gains arrive, and are felt in ordinary households, before public patience runs out.
Why a weekly reading matters
Approval moves with the cost of living, security and the sense of national direction. A single headline poll is a snapshot; a weekly tracker turns it into a trend. With 2027 approaching, it is effectively an early scorecard on the administration's central bet.
A verdict forming
Approval ratings are rarely static, and Nigeria's could yet recover if relief on prices and security materialises. For now, the reading is a candid snapshot of a public still waiting for reform to translate into everyday improvement.
Have your say
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the government's record to date? Add your view below.