Nigeria dey face one of the worst economic hardships in recent years, and many Nigerians dey cry out for help. The removal of fuel subsidy, floating of the naira, and other economic policies by President Bola Tinubu’s administration have brought severe hardship to the people.
The economic challenges have made it tough for people to keep up with the rising cost of living. Fuel prices don jump from roughly N185/litre to around N1,000, and electricity tariffs have also tripled. These increases have caused a ripple effect on general prices, especially on food and transportation costs.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) don call on President Tinubu to address the economic hardship and stop using the Department of State Services (DSS) as a weapon against critics. SERAP say that the government should focus on solving the economic problems rather than silencing those who dey speak out.
The economic hardship has also led to an increase in cybercrime among young Nigerians. With high unemployment rates and weakening family structures, many youths are turning to online fraud as a means of survival. Experts say that comprehensive economic reforms and targeted interventions are needed to address the root causes of this growing social menace.
In addition, private school proprietors are begging parents not to withdraw their children from school due to the inability to pay tuition fees. The hardship is affecting everybody, including school proprietors and teachers, and some schools have had to stop transportation services or add extra charges to the fare.
In Akwa Ibom State, the economic strain has fueled an alarming increase in gender-based violence. Women who once contributed to their families’ income now face heightened domestic abuse as their financial independence erodes under economic pressure. Some families are even begging for leftovers at restaurants to survive.
