The result, unveiled during a national dialogue in Abuja on July 3, 2025, underscores a weakening sense of togetherness across the country and a drop below the 50% threshold regarded as a minimum benchmark for a socially cohesive society.

Nigeria’s national unity remains fragile as the Africa Polling Institute (API) has revealed a troubling 46.8% score on the 2025 Nigeria Social Cohesion Index (NSCI).

The result, unveiled during a national dialogue in Abuja on July 3, 2025, underscores a weakening sense of togetherness across the country and a drop below the 50% threshold regarded as a minimum benchmark for a socially cohesive society.

The survey, which assessed over 5,400 Nigerians between January and February 2025 through face-to-face household interviews, highlighted a growing sense of distrust, alienation, and dissatisfaction among citizens, particularly in their interactions with government institutions and among themselves.

API’s Executive Director, Prof. Bell Ihua, signed the report which stated: "Overall, the results of the 2025 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey and the Nigeria Social Cohesion Index, was computed at a score of 46.8%, suggesting that Nigeria still falls below the average (50%) threshold of a socially cohesive country."

The report urged the federal government to consider establishing a National Cohesion Commission to reverse the trend and strengthen national identity and inclusion.

The survey stated, “In addition, the survey found that Nigerians now seem to be united in shared struggle, especially as it pertains to their everyday lives, and the negative impact of the current economic realities.

“It is not uncommon to hear citizens constantly alluding to the economic hardship, high costs of transport, and goods and services, as well as the lack of economic prosperity under the “Tinubu economy.”

“Africa Polling Institute (API), with the support of Ford Foundation, conducted a nationwide Citizens Perception Survey (CPS) to measure the state of social cohesion in Nigeria, between the months of January and February 2025.

“A total of 5,465 interviews were completed via Face-to-face Household visits, using the Stratified Random Sampling technique; with citizens aged 15 years and above. The interviews were conducted in five major languages: English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; and geographic quotas were assigned to ensure that all States and Senatorial District were proportionately represented in the sample.

“The concept of social cohesion refers to the willingness of citizens of a country to cooperate and work together towards ensuring the survival and prosperity of the country.

“Drawing from the literature, and building upon the 2019, 2021, and 2022 rounds of surveys, 14 indicators were instrumentalized to measure social cohesion in Nigeria – Identity; Trust; Social Justice and Equity; Civic Participation; Tolerance; Gender Equity; Disability and Inclusion, Impunity; Corruption; Natural Resource Governance; Polarization; Security and Peacebuilding; Coping Strategies; Migration; Self-worth and Future Expectations.”