Poll Reveals an Urgent Need for a Functional 3-digit Security Helpline Across the Nation – NOIPolls
Abuja, Nigeria. November 13th, 2018. An excerpt from NOIPolls’ security poll conducted in May 2018 revealed that almost 7 in 10 (69 percent) Nigerians do not know any security helpline to call in an emergency, implying that most Nigerians are unable to report any emergency security issue when the need arises. During the course of this poll, majority of the respondents complained of their inability to recall the eleven digits security mobile numbers provided by the Nigerian Police and advocated on the spot that the Nigerian Police should have a three (3) digits number for all emergencies. This therefore reveals that the efforts of security agencies in ensuring citizens are able to report ongoing emergency situations are inadequate and emphasizing the need for this all-important mechanism to be put in place to ensure effective feedback mechanisms between Nigerians and security agencies.
The poll also gauged the perception of Nigerians on how well-equipped security operatives are in tackling security challenges and findings revealed that 24 percent of respondents stated that security operatives are “not well quipped” to tackle security challenges. On the other hand, 43 percent believed that they are “well equipped “and the North-East zone (56 percent) had the largest proportion of Nigerians who mentioned this. This could be attributed to the heavy presence of armed forces with heavy weaponry due to the ongoing fight against insurgency in the region.
Information technology (IT) plays a critical role in strengthening security against potential future attacks hence, it is vital for Nigerian security operatives to synergize with relevant stakeholders and adopt the use of 3-digit security helpline to enable Nigerians share information more readily as soon as they identify potential threats.
EXCERPTS FROM POLL
The poll report gauged the perception of Nigerians regarding awareness of security helplines and the poll revealed that nationwide, majority (69 percent) of Nigerians are unaware of any security help line to call in an emergency while 31 percent admitted they know the security helplines to call in an emergency.
Further analysis by geo-political zones showed the North-Central with 75 percent as the zone with the largest number of Nigerians who are unaware of any security helpline to call in an emergency. This result is not a reflection of the level of security in these regions but is reflective of the need for security agencies to partner with stakeholders to engage and sensitize Nigerians living in these zones regarding their responsibility in helping tackle insecurity in their areas.
The survey also gauged the opinion of Nigerians regarding how well-equipped Nigerian security operatives are in relation to tackling security challenges in the nation. Analysis revealed that 43 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that Nigerian security operatives are equipped to tackle security challenges in the country having rated them as well equipped. On the contrary, 24 percent of Nigerians stated that the Nigerian security operatives are not equipped to tackle security challenges nationwide.
The poll results revealed that respondents in the North-East region 56 percent had the highest percentage of Nigerians who stated that Nigerian security operatives are equipped to tackle security challenges within their immediate localities while the North Central has the lowest percentage of respondents who said security operatives are well equipped to tackle security challenges in their immediate environment with 35 percent.
Analyzing the preparedness of Nigerian security operatives in tackling security challenges across geopolitical zones, the national average score of 2.19 was compared with the regional average scores and it revealed that only the South-West and North-Central geopolitical zones fell below the national average at 2.12 and 2.00 points respectively.
In conclusion, the poll has established that most Nigerians are unaware of any security helpline they can call in an emergency. This is a clarion call for Nigerian security operatives to put the requisite mechanism in place to aid the adoption and implementation of a 3- digit security helpline for Nigerians to call in emergencies such as security, fires etc. Results also revealed that although majority of respondents (43 percent) stated that security operatives were well equipped, the figure still fell below average and must be improved upon by equipping security operatives better to enable them tackle insecurity and ensure continuous internal safety and security.
Law makers must also play their part in ensuring that security agencies are provided with appropriate backing by the law and adequate funding to put said mechanisms in place, are well equipped with sophisticated weapons to ensure the safety of lives and properties across the nation.
Survey Methods
The Poll was conducted in the week commencing 7th May 2018. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 4,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%. NOIPolls Limited, No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published.
NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking.
SOURCE: NOIPolls
