A Season of Celebrations and Reflections

We are in a season of celebrations, a time that many of us look forward to right from the beginning of the year. For most families, preparations for these celebrations start early, with people saving up just to make the season memorable. This is particularly true for Christians, for whom December marks a double celebration with Christmas and the New Year.

Before I continue, I must first express my gratitude to God for keeping me and my family alive from the beginning of the year until now. It is by His grace alone that we stand, and I believe that He will see us through into the new year and beyond.

Celebrations are wonderful, but we must remember to celebrate within our means. It is important not to overextend ourselves financially during this festive period, forgetting that life continues after the celebrations are over. In fact, every day should be treated as special, and we shouldn’t wait until December to appreciate ourselves and our loved ones.

This December, however, feels different. The prices of goods and commodities in the market have skyrocketed, making it more challenging to prepare for the celebrations. Almost everything needed to make meals is now more expensive. Imagine a 5-kilogram chicken being sold for 35,000 naira. The cost of vegetable oil, pepper, and other essentials has also risen sharply.

When you compare these prices to the minimum wage, which is just 70,000 naira, the situation becomes even more alarming. To make matters worse, many states are still unable—or unwilling—to pay the minimum wage. It’s shocking to realize that the minimum wage, even if paid, amounts to less than $40. This reality is hard to comprehend, especially when one considers that governments are expected to care for their citizens.

What frustrates me the most is the government’s disregard for the people who voted them into power. Instead of prioritizing the welfare of the citizens, their focus is on themselves, filling their pockets, and on amassing wealth while the majority of the population suffers in poverty.

It baffles me that a single person can embezzle public funds running into trillions of naira—money that could have been used for the benefit of all. It is pure greed. At the same time, citizens are forced into hardship, unable to afford basic necessities because of the crippling policies made by the government. These policies have worsened the economic situation, eroding people’s financial power and purchasing ability.

How can we have a government so blind to the needs of its people? How can a government be so indifferent to whether or not its citizens can feed or live well?

In times like this, my advice to everyone is to look beyond immediate challenges and focus on personal growth and development. If possible, we should try to create multiple streams of income. Diversifying our income is one way to protect ourselves from the unpredictable economic conditions around us.

The government has often encouraged citizens to embrace farming as a solution to food scarcity and financial difficulties. However, there is no concrete support or plan in place to make this a reality. Farmers still face numerous challenges, including herdsmen grazing on their land and insurgencies in the northern part of the country, which have disrupted large-scale food production.

The truth is, without meaningful intervention and security, farming remains a risky venture for many.