The Realities Of An Average Nigerian

Photo by Omotayo Tajudeen on Unsplash

Nigeria's economy is experiencing its lowest decline since 1983. While there are many reasons for this, in this post, we will explore what this means to the average Nigerians trying to feed their family.

Emeka Goodwill is an example of the average Nigerian. He is a young man living in Lagos with his wife Grace. Emeka and his wife have become part of the 7 million people that fell into poverty since the pandemic, according to the World Bank estimate. Before 2020, Emeka and his wife managed with both their monthly income that came up to #200,000 in naira. Then Covid happened, they both lost their jobs, and then life as they managed it changed.

From that point on, the despair, the no 'show palliative' from the Nigerian government added to the growing nerves of the couple.  However, the Lagos state government did its best to support Lagosians during the 2020 lock down's. Emeka and his wife were part of those families that fell through the cracks. Grace fell into depression and Emeka took to the streets to find daily bread any which way. With his depressed wife and family pressure on the rise,  Emeka braced himself to do anything and everything within his power to survive. They depleted their savings in order to survive through the lockdown period and failed at several attempts to get better-paying jobs and meet daily expenses.

With the new year and their menial living, they held strong the Nigerian spirit to survive – the ability to always see 'the glass as half full'. Emeka and his wife were not the only ones who hoped 2021 would be better. However, the hike in market prices has made it more difficult for his family and many others.

Currently, Emeka works as a dispatch rider for a courier company, and Grace, a school teacher. Together, they both have a monthly income of #60,000 in naira. "Life is the most difficult," according to Emeka, who expressed bitterly his frustration at the outrageous increase in the price of living necessities

From January to March, the market prices were fairly stable. April came with a hike in the new set of food prices. While the complaints were still in our mouths, May slapped hard with harsher conditions for Nigerians. According to the chairwoman of Ketu Market Union, the prices of food from April to August alone have tripled. From her standpoint, they too make less profit due to the high cost of supply. "Food has been a pain point for us and has heightened our fears and insecurities as a family," Emeka laments, "Especially now that we are expecting an addition to the family." "Food items ranging from pepper, onion, meat and chicken, Rice, Garri, Yam and the likes have dramatically increased in price. For example, the amount of pepper I get for #400 before is triple the price now. It's unnerving," Grace reinforced.

Soaring food prices are one of the major factors that have made food expensive in restaurants. Even the famous 'Mama Put' joints that are meant to be unbiased and welcoming to all despite your pocket status have taken hit after hit. According to the World Bank’s statistics that pre-date the pandemic; it is likening the hike in food prices to inflation. The World Bank's June 2021 report states: "High inflation rates are worsening poverty and depressing economic activity." Only reinforces the sad reality of Nigerians like Emeka and Grace.

The report highlighting 'poverty and inflation in Nigeria' sums up most Nigerians' reality.

"The headline inflation rate reached a four-year high in March 2021, and in 2020 food prices accounted for 63 percent of the total increase in inflation. Most of the food that households consume is purchased rather than self-produced, even among poor agricultural households in rural areas; food-price inflation is thus a major threat to purchasing power and household welfare. Food insecurity is more widespread than it was  before the COVID-19 crisis, and in November 2020 about 56 percent of households reported that adults had skipped meals in the previous 30 days".

Nigerians are now in their "ember" months. With celebrations in sight and challenges still on the rise, it has only heightened the anxiety of many Nigerians. The culture of prices forever going up and not down seems to be the only stable condition of the Nigerian economy. When the price of items goes up in Nigeria, it never comes down. The frustration expressed by Emeka and Grace is only a preview of most Nigerians' realities. All we have is hope and belief in a better tomorrow. Like they say in Nigeria, 'E go better!'

This is one aspect of the realities of the average Nigerian. The future is bleak for most Nigerians but still, they find time to smile, dance and joke even when their next meal is not guaranteed. Just like Emeka and Grace, there are lots more of them, and some stories are worse than others.

At the end, when you see an average Nigerian smiling or doing their best to stay happy while looking for their daily bread, encourage them. Find a way to help lighten each other's burdens. Nor forget say, we dey together. As Yoruba's will say – Omo Iya mi, ma fo!

Thank you for reading this article.