December 2022
Findings of the 2022 Annual Perception Survey (APS) indicate improved public perception of the relevance, value, and effectiveness of a range of conflict management mechanisms supported by the Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme. The APS was conducted by Practical Sampling International (PSI), an independent polling organisation. It polled a total of 5,017 respondents from six states - three MCN target states (4,415) and 3 contiguous control states (600).
Well over half the respondents (57%) think that conflict prevention / response mechanisms are very relevant, valuable and effective (up from 54% in 2021 and at the highest level it has been across all the five years of surveys).
There has been a further decrease in the number of people that think the mechanisms are not relevant, valuable or effective (6%) down from 7% in 2021 and 17% in 2019. This number is also at the lowest level of all the five years-indicating the impact of the MCN Programme in strengthening conflict management capability.
The influence of the MCN Programme is also evidenced by the comparative results of the poll in the control states of Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba where 39% thought their local conflict management mechanisms were very relevant, valuable and effective (a fall from 47% in 2021), with 14% thinking they were not very or not at all relevant (up from 8% in 2021).
The survey showed improved perceptions of some of the main institutions supported by MCN. For instance, the traditional justice system continued to receive positive approval by the public, as 92% of respondents said they would seek their services for their justice and conflict resolution needs. The survey showed that respondents were mostly satisfied with the traditional justice system with some 47% saying it works very well and 45% saying it is satisfactory. Significantly, there was a marked difference in the views of male (43%) and female respondents (52%) who think the system works well indicating a return on the efforts of the programme to mainstream gender and social inclusion in the support for the traditional justice system.
The APS also showed that there is high confidence in Community Peace and Safety Partnerships (CPSPs): 93% of respondents said they would refer a safety / security matter to the CPSP if the need arose.
