Nigerians, you’re on your own!

 

Compatriots, I don’t mean to scare you. I just thought we should do some cross-fertilisation of ideas and intellectual cobwebbing. What do you think can solve this rising cost of living crisis? Can you rely on the government for your daily survival? Do you believe things will get better with time? Are you hopeful of improved service delivery by government ministries, departments and agencies? Don’t you think it’s time to take responsibility? I mean, shouldn’t you and I take our destinies in our hands?

Last Thursday was June 12, our Democracy Day, and we commemorated 26 unbroken years of civil rule in this Fourth Republic, which started in 1999. The President addressed the nation at the joint session of the National Assembly. He gave an update on his achievements in two years in office, particularly in the economy and used the occasion to recognise the heroes and heroines of democracy, dead and alive, as he gave them national honours. In about three months from now, it will be October 1 and we will again roll out the drums in celebration of 65 years of our independence. However, amid this fanfare, how has the average Nigerian fared? Better or worse?

One of my hobbies, apart from writing, is listening to music. I like the oldies. The classic and timeless songs are across different genres. On reflection, I recall Fela Anikulapo’s timeless song “Shuffering and Shmiling” released in 1978; Dr Victor Olaiya, highlife maestro’s song titled “Ilu Le o”, which was released in 1983; I remember reggae star, Ras Kimono’s song “Under Pressure” and “What’s Gwan?” released in 1989 and 1990, respectively; “Formula 0-1-0” song by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey released in 1989; African China’s song “Mr President” released in 2006; all of them decrying the rising cost of living. I asked myself, when will Nigeria become an El Dorado that our leaders, both civilian and military, have been promising us?   When shall we get to the Promised Land (of milk and honey)?

Patriots, don’t let anyone deceive you any longer; you’re O-Y-O (On Your Own) if you don’t know that by now, you’re living in denial. A friend shared three newspaper banner headlines with me last week, which I posted on my Facebook wall. The first one is titled “2015: Be patient with me, I will not let you down, Jonathan tells Nigerians” (Daily Post, August 18, 2014); the second one is titled “Be patient with me, Buhari begs Nigerians” (Vanguard, July 17, 2015); the third one says “Be patient with me, Tinubu begs Nigerians” (The PUNCH, June 1, 2025). Three presidents pleaded with their country’s people to be patient and bear with them. Will any future president have a different plea to make? Your guess is as good as mine.

What’s to be done? You and I have to develop coping mechanisms with the sustained rising cost of living. One such measure is to embrace family planning and child spacing. This is not the era of having a “battalion” of children. It’s a warped philosophy to continue to believe that the God who gives a child will miraculously provide what to eat for them. If it were to be so, nobody would be living in hunger and starvation. There should be no poor person who should not be able to feed. But today’s reality is that people are scavenging for food from refuse bins and trash cans. So, it is advisable to limit the number of children to between one and two maximum. China at a time came up with a one-child policy but that may not work in Nigeria because of our bigotry.  The current reality is that those with fewer children are able to better afford the basic necessities of lives and live decently than those with multitudes.

In times past, farmers had many children because they were of the view that these children would be able to assist them in farm work. That is no longer fashionable. The number of farmers has reduced considerably, while those who are farming in contemporary times no longer need manual labourers, as science and technology have made farming easy and less labour-intensive. Recall that it was the Industrial Revolution that facilitated the abolition of the slave trade. Thus, many farmers now want their children to go to school and train to be professionals like medical doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, etc.

Another coping mechanism is for us to cut our coats, not according to our size, but according to our clothes. Yorubas will say, “Se bi o ti mo, elewa Sapon,” which denotatively means learn to live within your means. Borrow less, earn more. Leave out what you can’t afford. If you don’t earn like the Joneses, don’t live like them. If you can’t afford to live in a three-bedroom flat, go for the less expensive ones. If you can’t afford to send your child to a private school, you have the choice to send him or her to a public school. If the private hospitals are unaffordable to you, go to public hospitals. If you can’t afford imported goods, patronise the made-in-Nigeria ones. You don’t have to eat exotic cuisines; local foods are even more nutritious. It’s a manner of cooking! You can’t afford carbonated drinks, beverages, spirits, and wines? No problem, go for local versions like zobo, kunu, palm wine, burukutu, fura de nunu, kain-kain (local gin), etc. They are healthier and affordable.

It’s high time we started to discourage our children from going to tertiary institutions to read just any course. They have to be very choosy and survey the job environment or ecosystem for what employers need. How many employers need graduates of social sciences like political science, psychology, sociology and even economics? How many business owners need graduates of the humanities, such as history, philosophy, religious studies or languages?

It’s better to have vocational skills in contemporary times than to have useless degrees that cannot guarantee employment. Information communication technology has opened vistas of job opportunities that can make those who are skilled in it self-reliant. Look at the skit makers who are smiling at the banks now. They have a multitude of followers on social media and rake in millions of naira from advertisements, endorsements and sponsorships.

The Holy Book says a man’s talent will make a way for him. (Proverbs 18:16). Are you a talented writer, drummer, singer, actor, fashion designer, sculptor, web designer, or repairer?  You can prosper with your gift. Remember the Holy Book said, God will bless the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). It’s important to have two skills, no matter what you study in school. One is digital literacy, and the other is financial literacy. These are essentials, a sine qua non to daily living. All said and done, I am not here saying we should not demand good governance or dividends of democracy from our governments at all levels. However, what can they offer? At best, tokenism. Ask government employees if they are earning a living wage. The answer is capital NO! This is a time and season to have multiple streams of income to keep one’s head above water. Enough said!

X: @jideojong.