Nigeria: Standing In Akimbo Amidst Hard Times

By Sampson Uhuegbu

On Monday; February 7, 2022, I came across a middle- aged satchet water hawker along the ever busy Douglas road , Owerri who was shouting on top of her voice over loss of Two Hundred Naira (200) by her little son.

This vendor was mercilessly hitting her child with a big bowl before some good spirited onlookers intervened and delivered the child.

Looking at that woman, I saw suffering, I saw bitterness. Just saw pains all over her, penury was clearly reflecting on the child’s mother who could perhaps, be in her early Forties. (40- 45).

My dear readers, frustrations and hardtimes currently undergoing by Nigerians can throw one into a state of confusion and disorientation. Presently, people are deeply in pain as a result of hardship in the country. Recession rocking Nigeria has not seemingly recieved the needed attention it should.

In the 2015 presidential election when President Muhammadu Buhari won in the poll that he slogged out with the then incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan who recontested for second term in office, he allowed fairness to hold sway.

The outgone president had the instruments to have manipulated the elections in order to ensure he defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Muhammadu Buhari. But Jonathan never cared. Being a peace-loving man by nature he gave unity of purpose a chance to reign supreme in the exercise. Though it had been uneasy to floor an incumbent president in the Nigerian political system.

As President Buhammadu Buhari won election and assumed the mantle of leadership, no axe was grinded. Nigerians recieved his emergence with open arms.

One of his five- point agenda when he was seeking for election was to change the nation’s dependence on Oil, create mass employment, Adequate security, Fight corruption, improve infrastructure and good healthcare. Among these Agenda, but non can be said to have been fulfilled.

Many have lost interest in the affairs of the country because nothing is working out. All sectorts of the economy are redundant due to insensitivity of those in the helms of affairs and their non- implementation attitude. Education, Agriculture, Finance, Commerce & Industry, health, Industry and others are no- longer nothing to write home about.

Nearly seven (7) years now, President Buhari and Commander- in-Chief of the armed forces had been incharge as the Petroleum Resources as Minister. Nigerians were beside themselves with joy when he assumed that duty. Expectations were assuringly on high.

It was so because many thought when president takes over that sector, Price would be normal but unfortunately, It is getting out of proportion that in our country petroleum is sold at Two Hundred and fifty naira (250)per litre,
Diesel: Six Hundred and Twenty (620 Naira) per litre.

Kerosene: Four Hundred (400 Naira) per litre. What about food stuffs? A bag of rice goes for (Thirty Three Thousand (33,000 Naira), 25litre of red oil increases to Thirty Thousand (30,000 Naira)

25litr of groundnut oil Thirty Five Thousand (35,000).

Packet of Maggie: Seven Hundred (700)
Bag of satchet water; 200,
Bag of Cement; 4500A zinc, 30,000 per bundle, name them. I feel for Nigerians that can not even afford a three square meal a day. It is indeed a terrible situation.

No one is finding it easy this time- regarding means of livelyhood. It is equally affecting some people one may feel are “The haves” whereas the “The have nots” are languishing in excruciating penury.

In an interview with an Owerri-based food vendor who gave her name as Chinelo Diala, revealed that the increase on a plate of food menu- depending on the variety of soup and sizes, are attributed to the rise on prices of things in the market.

“It is also affecting us. Some customers have resorted to eating without meat on their meal which costs Four Hundred (400) Naira. Our patronage is now low due to hardtimes”, she said.

In Nigeria, fuel is even supposed to be at the reach of everyone- be it for personal or commercial use. Reason is that over One Million, Five Hundred Thousand (1,5million) Nigerians depend solely on fuel to power their generators.

Saloon operators, tailors, welders, generating sets repairers and other artisans that rely on fuel as source of power in their shops.

Journalists as opinion moulders and public Affairs analysts are stakeholders in the society and should not stand in akimbo while things to get bad in the country. Being the fourth estate of the realm, we must play our role of criticizing (NOT ATTACKING) the government in any area they seem not to have performed impressively.

This period, Universities owned by Federal and States’ governments in the country are currently under lock and keys as a result of the loggerheads between Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government. Undergraduates are now wandering around the streets aimlessly.

How much is ASUU demanding that Government can not afford? Does it mean there is no money or the critical stakeholders are not ready to let go whatever causes the lingering crisis.

It appears education now excels in the hands of private sector than being managed by the government who ordinarily is expected to deliver a satisfactorily qualitative and subsidized education to people of all sundry status.

Insecurity challenges rocking the country is another disturbing development that has thrown citizens into unimaginable source of utmost concern. Many security agents have lost their precious lives in the course of protecting lives and property of the people.

Diverse strategies have been put in place to stem this issue the country appears helpless in their frantic efforts to surmount these challenges.

Bereaved families of the deceased men and women of the forces have to be appreciated for the supreme sacrifes made so far in discharging their duties.

It is expedient for President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with states’ Governors in a view to brainstorming on better ways to tackle problems which are facing Nigerians.

Myriads of Nigerians are Medical Doctors, Architects, Builders, Civil Engineers, Lecturers, Nurses outside the country; and have refused to come back to live in Nigeria due to the fact things are not organized here.

Government should encourage farmers and other private sectors so as to create jobs for the unemployed youths that are chunned out yearly from higher institutions.

There are busines- oriented ones but financial assistance does not come their way for them to kick- off the project which would in turn, alleviate joblessness that could lead to social vices in the society.

Let our House of Representatives, Senators, Governors and States’ House of Assembly members support motions cum bills that are aimed at addressing the problems in the country.

It is regrettable, that the Senate recently threatened to knock- out a part of the Electoral Act that was signed into law by the President. If the lawmakers do that, it means they are drawing the country back; and that means the corruption we are fighting for may continue to fight us unabated.

Now that Nigeria is having lots of problems from left, right and centre, it is advisable for stakeholders to always keep their slate clean in order contribute towards douncing the tension.