Sentiment analysis of social media posts on Nigerian government’s image and reputation in a period of economic strain and social distrust

Abstract This study leverages social media sentiment analysis to evaluate public opinion on the Nigerian government's image and reputation during a period of economic strain and heightened social distrust. Anchored in Social Identity Theory, the research aims to understand how the public perceives the government's image by analyzing social media sentiments within the context of ongoing economic challenges. Sentiment analysis, the core research design, was used to examine social media data, revealing prevailing attitudes and key issues related to government actions and policies. The findings indicate a predominantly negative sentiment toward the government, primarily driven by dissatisfaction with economic performance, rising living costs, and widespread hardship. However, the analysis also uncovered pockets of support for certain government policy reforms and initiatives aimed at addressing the crises. The study concludes that in today's digital era, AI-driven tools like sentiment analysis and opinion mining are crucial for monitoring and interpreting public sentiment toward the government and its policies. It recommends that the Nigerian government adopt these technologies to better understand and respond to citizen concerns, particularly in the face of socio-economic challenges. Additionally, the study suggests real-time sentiment analysis for effective government reputation management, proactive engagement with public concerns to rebuild trust, tailored communication strategies for different social groups, and the implementation of fact-checking initiatives to promptly address misinformation and counteract negative sentiment. Key Words: Sentiment Analysis, Social Media, Public Perception, Government Image and Reputation, Social Distrust Management About the Author * James Aondowase Ashiekpe, Ph.D. is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 17, No. 1, April 2025, pp. 155-167. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). Article Citation Ashiekpe, J. A. (2025). Sentiment analysis of social media posts on Nigerian government’s image and reputation in a period of economic strain and social distrust. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 17 (1): 155-167. Full Article Words: 6,937 Pages: 13 To access full article, click on download.