Residents of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis, as skyrocketing food prices and transportation costs have made daily survival a daunting challenge.
This situation has been exacerbated by a recent hike in petrol pump prices, which has further strained household budgets.
Many residents, like Mrs. Maryam Abu, a mother of three, express their frustration and despair.
"Last year, I could buy a bag of rice for N50,000 and now, it is more than N100,000. How can I feed my children?" she lamented, highlighting the harsh reality faced by many families.
The impact of these rising costs is widespread, affecting civil servants, traders, and small business owners alike. Mrs. Ekaite Obot, a civil servant, shared her struggles:
"For over five months now, I have not moved my car from the garage because I can no longer afford to fuel or maintain the vehicle."
Similarly, Mr. Albert Nwakama, a trader dealing in fairly-used clothing, known locally as "okrika," described his plight: "I have not witnessed anything like this since I began this okrika business nine years ago.
Many customers who used to buy my goods have stopped coming to my shop."
In response to these challenges, some residents have turned to contribution platforms, known as "adashi," to pool resources and purchase essential household items.
Mrs. Mary Umeh, another civil servant, explained, "We have several platforms where we contribute money monthly and at the end of the year, we use the money to buy various household items."
The dire economic conditions have prompted urgent calls for government intervention.
Ms. Christabel Nicholas, a small business owner, emphasized the need for action: "We need government intervention to overcome this situation because Nigerians are sick, hungry, suffering, and dying."
Comments