In Nigeria, hardship seem to be struggling to become a permanent resident, as constant as the rainy season that floods Lagos streets and as frustrating as the power supply that disappears just when you need it most. It seems no matter the government in power, whether in agbada or babanriga, the average Nigerian continues to face challenges that make life more like an episode of Who Wants to Survive Nigeria Today? The big question is: Who will bell the cat of hardship?
Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources. Oil, agriculture, and minerals – you name it, it has it. Yet, as if by some wicked twist of fate, most Nigerians remain stuck in an unending cycle of economic struggles. Fuel scarcity, skyrocketing prices of goods, insecurity, and unemployment are just a few of the troubles we battle daily. And if we’re being honest, it’s been this way for decades.
Fuel Subsidy Wahala
Let’s talk about the famous or, more accurately, infamous removal of the fuel subsidy. It’s a topic that has been dragging for so long, you’d think it’s a Nollywood sequel with no end in sight. Each time the government attempts to remove the subsidy, they promise citizens a better tomorrow, cheaper fuel prices, and improved living standards. But when the subsidy is finally removed, the fuel prices skyrocket like an aero plane taking off, and somehow, the better tomorrow gets lost in transit.
Thinking about how fuel scarcity hits us at the worst possible moments. Just when you think life can’t get any harder, you find yourself spending half the day in a fuel queue under the hot sun, fighting for a few liters of petrol. Sometimes you wonder if we are truly the giants of Africa or the underdogs who can’t even power their generators for constant light.
The Rising Cost of Living
Oh, how the cost of living continues to rise, as if competing with Usain Bolt. A bag of rice that cost N20,000 last year is now dancing within N80,000 – and counting! The price of onions, tomatoes, and even bread, that staple of every Nigerian household, have risen faster than we can say “inflation.” Everyday goods have become luxury items, and going to the market has turned into a depressing math exam. You carry N10,000 thinking it’s enough to buy groceries for the week, only to discover it can barely cover soup ingredients for one pot of stew.
It’s a different kind of pain, and it’s not just hitting the low-income earners. Even the so-called middle class is feeling the pinch. People are cutting back on basic necessities, switching to smaller portions, and finding ways to manage. In true Nigerian spirit, we survive by “patch-patch,” squeezing every last drop out of what we have. But for how long can we keep this up?
Insecurity Everywhere
If only it stopped at economic hardship, but no, insecurity is another dragon we must face daily. From the north to the south, kidnappings, banditry, and communal clashes have become the new normal. Even in your own home, you might not feel safe. Our police officers, who are supposed to protect us, sometimes seem more interested in collecting “egunje” than catching criminals. You’ll hear of people kidnapped on the expressway, only for their families to cough up millions of naira to rescue them. How did we get here?
Somehow, the government keeps assuring us that they are on top of the situation. We’ve heard promises of tackling insecurity so often that it has become background noise. But if the military can’t stop bandits from terrorizing the roads and the cities, then who will?
The Unemployment Scandal
And then there’s unemployment. Our graduates have now become part of a workforce that isn’t working. After years of toiling in school, enduring lecturers’ strikes, and paying exorbitant fees, young Nigerians are released into a labour market with no jobs. Those lucky enough to find employment are often paid peanuts, barely enough to cover transportation and feeding.
When there’s no job, entrepreneurship becomes the default option. But even that has its own wahala – no capital, no stable electricity, and unpredictable policies that make starting and running a business feel like mission impossible. Every young person dreams of “japa” (relocating abroad), but how many of us can afford that luxury?
Who Will Bell the Cat?
This brings us to the big question: Who will bell the cat? In other words, who will solve Nigeria’s never-ending cycle of hardship? Each new government comes with promises of change, but somehow, the only change we see is the type that makes things harder.
Will it be the politicians, those elected to represent us? The same ones who spend more time arguing in the National Assembly than passing meaningful bills? The ones who fly out to Europe for medical treatment while our hospitals crumble? These are the same leaders whose children study abroad, while our own education system is left in shambles. Will they be the ones to rescue us?
Or is it the private sector that will save the day? Nigerian entrepreneurs are some of the most innovative in the world. From tech startups to fashion, there’s no doubt that our business community is a shining light. But how can they thrive when the system is rigged against them? High taxes, poor infrastructure, and government policies that change faster than you can say “regulation” make it difficult for businesses to grow.
In all of this, the ordinary Nigerian continues to persevere. Whether it’s the market woman selling tomatoes in Mile 12, the bus conductor hustling on Mararaba-Nyaya road, or the tech guru building apps in Yaba, we are a resilient people. We have perfected the art of surviving by fire by force. But at some point, we need more than survival. We need a system that works.
Despite the bleakness, there is always hope. Nigerians have a knack for bouncing back no matter how bad things get. And while we may not yet know who will bell the cat, we know that the Nigerian spirit is unbreakable. Perhaps, the change will come from us – the people. A collective awakening that forces our leaders to listen and act. It’s high time we demanded accountability and push for policies that prioritize the well-being of the common man.
Until that day comes, we will continue to live by the popular saying: “We go survive!” But let’s not just survive – let’s thrive. Maybe, just maybe, the next generation of Nigerians will finally find a country where hardship isn’t a permanent house guest. Until then, we keep moving, we keep hoping, and we keep asking: who will bell the cat?
After all, in Nigeria, we are experts at turning lemons into lemonade.
