Beyond Hardship: Nigeria’s Soaring Cost of Existence Reaches a Critical Peak
Beyond Hardship: Nigeria’s Soaring Cost of Existence Reaches a Critical Peak
Nigeria has historically been a country where hardship exists, but the resilience of its people often provides a glimmer of hope. The struggle to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, education, and employment has been a long-standing issue. However, recent developments have signaled a new era of hardship, pushing the very existence of the average Nigerian to the brink. It’s no longer just about the inability to put food on the table, access education, or secure employment. A growing number of Nigerians are finding it impossible to afford shelter, and this inability to sustain the most basic aspects of life is causing a societal shift like never before.
The Housing Crisis: Beyond Affordability
Shelter, one of the most basic human needs, has now become an unattainable luxury for many Nigerians. The cost of housing has surged to unprecedented levels, making it nearly impossible for both renters and prospective homeowners to secure decent accommodation. High property prices, driven by inflation and a failing economy, have excluded the majority from accessing affordable homes. The average Nigerian cannot afford the skyrocketing rent in major cities, and owner-occupied housing has become a distant dream for many. With housing prices far outpacing wage growth, the shelter problem has evolved into a national emergency.
In addition to financial struggles, natural disasters and man-made crises have worsened the housing situation. Annual floods continue to ravage low-lying areas, leaving thousands homeless as properties are submerged or destroyed. In states like Bayelsa and Lagos, entire communities are displaced as torrential rains overwhelm weak infrastructure. This situation is exacerbated by insurgency, banditry, and violent conflicts in regions like the northeast and northwest. Thousands have been forced to abandon their homes, seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where conditions are often deplorable. Meanwhile, government action has been slow and ineffective, leaving the displaced population in a constant state of insecurity.
The failure of authorities to address both natural and man-made disasters has left many Nigerians without shelter or a safety net. The country is witnessing a dangerous trend where the number of people living without homes, exposed to the elements, and relying on humanitarian aid, is growing exponentially. Shelter is no longer just a matter of affordability; it is a matter of survival.
Spiritual Detachment: The Struggle to Worship
Nigeria is a deeply spiritual country, with religion playing a significant role in the daily lives of its citizens. Whether Christian, Muslim, or adherents of traditional faiths, worship has always been central to the Nigerian experience. For many, the ability to gather in worship centers for prayers, blessings, and spiritual strength is a vital part of their existence. However, the deteriorating economic environment has made even this difficult.
The rising cost of living has made it hard for people to visit their places of worship as frequently as they once did. Transportation costs have risen sharply, forcing many to cut back on the number of trips they make to worship centers. What was once a weekly routine has now been reduced to an occasional visit due to the financial strain. For many, the worship center is not just a place of prayer but a source of community, hope, and solace. Its absence from their lives leaves a void that deepens the existential crisis many are facing.
In a country where faith and spirituality offer a coping mechanism during tough times, the inability to maintain spiritual practices is damaging. The poor economic environment has created a divide between people and their spiritual centers, weakening the bond with their Creator and eroding the hope that once sustained them in difficult times. This detachment is indicative of a broader societal breakdown, where the very things that provide meaning and strength to life are slipping away.
The Strain on Productivity
The ripple effects of this economic strain are not limited to housing and spiritual practices. More and more Nigerians are scaling back the number of days they go to work. Rising transportation costs, insecurity, and the prohibitive price of basic commodities have made regular attendance at the office unsustainable for many. Workers are faced with difficult choices: do they spend the little they have on transportation to get to work, or do they save that money for more pressing needs, such as food and healthcare?
This reduction in workdays is contributing to a decline in national productivity. Offices are no longer filled to capacity, with workers frequently absent due to financial constraints. This has a direct impact on the economy, as reduced productivity stalls business operations, limits growth, and exacerbates the already dire economic conditions.
The Economic Disaster
Nigeria is currently experiencing an economic disaster that is at the core of all these hardships. The country’s economy, long plagued by systemic corruption, inflation, and a dependency on oil exports, has collapsed under the weight of internal and external pressures. With the Naira drastically devalued, purchasing power has eroded, leaving citizens struggling to afford even basic necessities like food, transportation, and healthcare. Inflation has pushed the cost of goods and services to levels beyond what the average Nigerian can afford, while wages have remained stagnant or even decreased in real terms.
Unemployment rates are soaring, leaving millions of Nigerians without a means to support themselves or their families. Job creation, once a beacon of hope for the youth, has dwindled to a point where even the educated struggle to find meaningful employment. As businesses shut down or downsize due to the harsh economic environment, the ripple effect is felt across every sector. This economic disaster is suffocating the nation, with no clear end in sight. The rising cost of living and the inability of the government to implement sustainable economic policies are pushing the country toward a complete breakdown.
The Foreboding Future: A Society in Decline
The trajectory that Nigeria is currently on presents a grim outlook for the future. If these trends continue, the very foundations of society will erode. Schools, worship centers, markets, offices, and hospitals — all institutions that hold communities together — may become relics of the past. Without affordable housing, stable employment, or spiritual and educational access, the societal fabric that binds Nigerians together will unravel.
A future without schools means a generation of children growing up without the education needed to thrive in a globalized world. The absence of worship centers will deprive the nation of its moral and spiritual compass, and a reduction in markets and offices will devastate the economy even further. Hospitals, already struggling under the weight of limited resources and staff shortages, may eventually close their doors to the public. This grim forecast is not far-fetched; it is already beginning to unfold as the Nigerian people are pushed to the brink of existence.
Conclusion: The Urgency of Now
Nigeria has reached a critical peak in its cost of existence. What was once a struggle to provide basic necessities has now evolved into a desperate fight for survival. The country’s soaring cost of living, exacerbated by natural disasters, insurgency, and economic mismanagement, has placed the average Nigerian in a position where shelter, spirituality, and even work are becoming unattainable luxuries.
To make matters worse, Nigeria is caught in the throes of an economic disaster that is choking its people and tearing at the seams of its society. The path forward requires immediate and sustained action from the government, private sector, and international community. Nigeria cannot afford to wait any longer; the very existence of its people is at stake. To turn the tide, the country must prioritize affordable housing, address the root causes of insecurity, and provide economic relief to its struggling population. Anything less will result in the collapse of essential societal structures, leaving Nigeria in an existential crisis that may be too late to resolve.
In the face of these mounting challenges, it is the resilience of Nigerians that continues to offer hope. But even that resilience has its limits, and without meaningful intervention, the cost of existence may soon be too high for the average Nigerian to bear.
