Nigeria’s Economic Challenges: A Collective Call for Action by Anwo Sunday Adedeji
The current economic situation in Nigeria is retrogressing and the government is not doing anything to resuscitate this development. There is inflation in the price of goods and services and the government is not doing anything visible to resit this harsh economic situation.
In the month of August, the people had days of rage for 10 consecutive days to call on the government to end bad governance and to make the country a workable one. Where the youth unemployment issues will be sorted, the minimum wage will be upgraded to living wage, the electric categories into different bands will be abolished among other factors therein.
The government on their part has responded to the protest claim but till date, the situation still lingers on the public neck. There are no visible changes, the price of goods and services continue to increase, most especially, the price of PMS, and this is one of the determining factors in the price of goods and services. Despite the fact that, the price of the goods and service is scarce, the populace still finds it difficult to purchase PMS as we now have several queues in the filling station. Although, this long queue is as a result of the difference in price of Premium motor spirit (PMS) as there are some filling stations that are selling at average price and others at exorbitant prices.
On the side of the people, the traditional rulers of some communities have begun to ban and suspend local committee and market association as they see it as a tool determining the price of goods and services. They did not mind the concept of demand and supply. Well, some said their approach is sustainable and it might work provided other composite goods and service demands are also workable.
The situation continues to be tense in our society as banditry and kidnapping is now rampant nowadays more than before and has become a thing that bandits now show it off via TikTok and other social media without any repercussion. Meanwhile, the Gestapo instead of cubbing such act of terrorism and disturbance of peace in the society decided to witchunt investigative journalist and other freedom fighters.
Although, much accolades is given to the security operatives for their intense combat with those alleged terrorist and bandit cum kidnappers but much is expected from them and that, they should not be used as a tool to oppressed the average citizen or to intimate people while calling out public officers to fulfil their said manifesto to the people.
Nigeria will one day become a country of our own, provided we all contribute to her development and we shun all act of discrimination and we play our role accordingly. If not, two wrongs cannot make a right.
Until then, we will continue to complain and have nothing to show off.
My writing challenges continue and today is Day 2.
#SeptemberWritingChallenge
#Day2
2/09/2024
Anwo Sunday Adedeji