From Fear to Solutions

Citizen Perspectives Survey

Your lived experience matters. This survey helps shape the conversations we have at Civic Talks and informs better policy recommendations.

Your Contact Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number (optional)

Will you attend Civic Talks? *

How did you hear about us? *

I would like to receive updates from CISD / Civic Talks

1 About You

State of Residence *

Age Range *

Main Occupation *

Gender (optional)

2 Your Experience of Safety

How safe do you feel in your immediate community on a daily basis? *

1 — Very Unsafe 5 — Very Safe

In the past 12 months, have you personally experienced or witnessed a security incident? *

Think about the last time something unsafe happened near you or in your community. What did you do? *

In your own words, why do you think insecurity has persisted in Nigeria despite efforts to address it? *

3 Understanding Roles & Responsibility

In your experience, when a security incident happens in a Nigerian community, who do most people hold responsible? *

Scenario — Amara

Amara lives in a community where she has noticed some suspicious activities that she believes could lead to violence. She is unsure whether to report this or stay quiet to avoid trouble.

What do you think Amara should do? *

Whose responsibility is it to fix this situation? *

Scenario — Tobe

Tobe grew up in a community where insecurity was rampant. Despite government interventions, the situation never really improved. He wonders why.

Which of these explanations feels most true to you? *

Do Nigerian citizens have legal rights when interacting with security forces? *

Do you know of any community-level security initiative in your state? *

Do you know the procedure for contacting appropriate authorities in security emergencies? *

4 Attitudes & Perceived Barriers

Rank the following reasons for insecurity from MOST true (1) to LEAST true (7): *

Poverty and unemployment

Weak or underfunded security agencies

Political interference and elite interests

Ethnic, religious, or communal tensions

Corruption within security forces

Citizens not speaking up or cooperating

External influences (foreign funding, cross-border activity)

If you witnessed something suspicious tomorrow, how likely are you to report it to the police? *

If "It depends" — what would it depend on?

Have you ever reported a security concern to any authority? *

If YES — what happened after you reported it?

If NO — what was the main reason?

What would make you more likely to cooperate with security agencies? (select all that apply)

Better and more respectful treatment of citizens

Clearer and more accessible ways to report safely

Guaranteed protection for witnesses and informants

Visible community trust-building activities

Accountability when security personnel misconduct

I am already willing to cooperate

Nothing would change my mind

Other

Would you participate in a structured community security dialogue? *

What is one thing you believe citizens can do, starting now, to improve security? *