These days, I've decided, for my mental health and stability, to desist from questioning the reasons behind the inscent hike in the p...
These days, I've decided, for my mental health and stability, to desist from questioning the reasons behind the inscent hike in the price of goods in the market. Whenever I'm shocked by the new price of a commodity, I remain unshakable. Instead of commenting or rattling, I pray for abundance and prosperity. It doesn't surprise me, nor does it shake me. This is so because, from the little time I spent in Nigeria, I have understood that whenever the price of a commodity rises to a certain point, it doesn't come down, except in a few exceptional circumstances where even after the price comes down, it'll fire up again. So why should I disturb myself with something I'm sure I can't do anything about? Of course, no!
Okay, since we are certain we can't do anything about it, should we fold our arms and pray? Or should we storm the streets to protest or write to advocate for change?
The battle to save Nigeria from this pit is not a one-man battle; it is a battle we must all come together and join our hands to fight because we're in this together and we will suffer together.
A few days ago, the NLC and other affiliated bodies took to the streets to protest against economic hardship and the high cost of living across the country. That is indeed a great move!
However, it's sad because our government does not understand the language of protest and strike. It's evident that over the years, various unions came out to protest for days and strike for months without tangible outcome, result, or change.
Writers and rioters are also not left out in this battle. Writers have exhausted all the words at their disposal, clamouring for change. Rioters also storm the streets to stop cars from moving food items to other parts of the country; they snatch them as a bounty.
What do you expect them to do, man? They won't die of hunger!
Back to the subject matter, even though I'm not an economist, from the little knowledge of economics I had from secondary school, I can understand that the situation of Nigeria's economy has now reached a stage where laymen cannot predict or have a clue of what the market will look like. Our economists have exhausted virtually all the monetary and fiscal policies at their disposal. But still, there is no change in sight. The forces of demand and supply seem not to be working in Nigeria; prices are high, but people are still buying the commodities because we cannot live without them.
That one aside, the insecurity we all "thought" was over is now back in the "Almighty" capital of our country. The Federal Capital is now being ransacked by bandits. At first, it was Boko Haram in Borno; a few years ago, it was Kaduna and Zamfara; and now it is the Federal Capital, where all security agencies have their bases.
All our national and local intelligence is based in Abuja. Our entire security architecture is dependent on the function, or otherwise, of the FCT. If the lives of people living in the FCT are threatened by bandits, what will be the fate of the poor man in Hayin Dogo Samaru? If our security agencies cannot detect crime and dangers posed at the FCT, Who will give Malam Adamu of Hayin Dogo the assurance that his life will be protected? Man, we're living on God.
Enough of the crying, bitterness, and complaining. The question we should ask ourselves at this stage is: What is the solution? Do we need restructuring? Will state police solve our insecurity challenges? Should we leave the naira to float? Or should we bring back fuel subsidies?
The genesis of our problems must be traced back to former President Buhari's regime, in which the former president made various unsuccessful attempts to remove the fuel subsidy. Whenever the issue is brought to the table, he faces fierce challenges from industry men, traditional rulers, and well-meaning Nigerians.
However, upon ascending the throne, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope agenda, announced the removal of the subsidy a few minutes after he was sworn in as the president of Nigeria.
This is one of the reasons for the immediate skyrocketing of the prices of goods in the market. More than 70 percent of Nigeria's transportation is dependent on fuel.
Tired of listening to the problems? What is the solution?
At this critical stage, we need urgent government intervention in order to save our crippling economy. The government should devise a means of subsidising food items and other commodities. Removing fuel subsidies without putting anything in place to cushion the effect is a grave mistake. While making policies, the government should know that Nigeria is not the UK or US; we have our own peculiarities, and we must learn to live with them.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Sani Bello Hamza is a law student at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. He writes from Zaria and can be reached through his email at sanibellohamza@gmail.com or 09013506168.
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