Nigeria stands out as one of the few countries in the world where public opinion of Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, remains largely positive, according to a new global survey released by the Pew Research Center.
The study, conducted between January and April 2024 across 24 countries, shows that while the majority of nations view Israel unfavorably, 59% of Nigerian respondents held a favorable opinion of the country, with only 32% expressing a negative view.
Netanyahu also received comparatively higher approval ratings in Nigeria, in contrast to widespread disapproval in most of the surveyed countries.
Alongside Kenya, the only other nation with a majority favourable view — Nigeria bucks a global trend of rising criticism toward Israel, particularly among younger people and those on the political left.
Analysts suggest Nigeria’s support may be linked to shared experiences with the threat of Islamic terrorism, fostering a sense of alignment with Israel on security matters.
Globally, the median sentiment was starkly different: 62% of respondents across all countries surveyed viewed Israel unfavourably, with particularly high negative ratings in Turkey (93%), Indonesia (80%), and several European nations.
