By Sani Bello Hamza
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 with 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 neither 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 rise to a certain point it doesn’t come down, except in few exceptional circumstances where even after the price come down it’ll fire up again. So why should I disturb myself on 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 dey suffer together.
Few days ago, NLC and other affiliated bodies have taken the streets to protest against economic hardship and high cost of living across the country. That is indeed a great move!
However, it’s sad because our government do not understand the language of protest and Strike. It’s evident 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 exhaust all the words at their disposal clamouring for change. Rioters also storm the streets to stop car-goes moving food items to other parts of the country– they snatch it as 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, but, from the little knowledge of economics I had from secondary school I can understand the situation of Nigeria’a economy has now reached a stage where laymen can not predict or have a clue of what the market will look like. Our economists have exhaust virtually all the monetary and fiscal policies at their disposal. But still, there is no change in sight. The forces of demand and supply seems not to be working in Nigeria, prices are high but people are still buying the commodities– because we can not 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 was Boko Haram in Borno, few years ago it was Kaduna and Zamfara, and, now the Federal Capital where all security agencies have their base.
All our National and local intelligence are 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 is threatened by Bandits what will be the fate of the poor man in Hayin Dogo Samaru? If our security agencies can not 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 complain, 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 subsidy?
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 face fierce challenge 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 few minutes after he was sworn in as the president of Nigeria.
This is one the reasons of 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 device a means of subsidizing food items and other commodities. Removing fuel subsidy without putting anything in place to cushion the effect is a grave mistake. While making policies, the government should know that Nigeria is not 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 Zaria, he writes from Zaria and can be reached through his email; sanibellohamza@gmail.com or 09013506168.
