By Ngozi Nwankwo
Nigerian is celebrating its 64th independence Day Today, October 1, 2024 amidst mixed feelings from citizens of all strata.
Independence Day, known as October First, is an official national holiday in Nigeria, celebrated on 1 October. It marks Nigeria’s proclamation of independence from British rule on 1 October 1960.
Nigeria , also known as the giant of Africa celebrates its independence day at 64, and its greatest achievement has been its long democratic rule since 1999.
However, in recent times, Nigerians have through many interview channels, raised concerns over economic hardship, banditry, food insecurity, and disclosed their lack of confidence in Nigeria’ democracy.
From the vox pop conducted by our Correspondent, it showed Nigerians aggravated fears of hunger, dash of hopes in the nation’s medicals such as access to healthcare and healthy living, insecurity to life and property, poor quality education and inaccessibility of education to many Nigerians due to high tuition fees, poor road network and transportation system, retrogression of business and economic activities exacerbated by lack of investment, devaluation of naira and many others.
Considering the present economic hardship, Nigerians are strongly opposing the 64th independent anniversary, saying there was nothing to celebrate.
The concerned citizens who spoke to Nigeria Pilot maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have caused more harm than good, urging him to reconsider his reform policies.
Recall that On May 29, 2024,
Tinubu addressed Nigerians on Democracy Day for the second time since he assumed office on May 29, 2024.
In his speech, the President honoured heroes of democracy, rallied Nigerians to support his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and informed citizens that a bill for a new minimum wage will be sent to the National Assembly soon, among other things.
” I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.
“Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundations and over-reliance on revenues from exploitation of oil.
“The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. I feel your pains. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.
“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you,” he said.
Recently, Nigerians were greeted with the news of fuel subsidy removal and its intended consequences such as high cost of food, transportation, accomodations, healthcare, education which triggered uproar and industrial actions by Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC agitating for upward review of Minimum Wage as a cushion effect on the Civil Servants and poor masses. The end result of FG and NLC struggles and negotiations snowballed into the witnessed #Endbadgovernance protest held August 1, 2024 where many lives were lost.
With the agitations and argument on whether to celebrate 64th Independence Day, our reporters visited Dei-Dei market, popularly known as ‘Tomato market’. Our findings revealed that food stuffs prices are on the increase making it hard for low income earners to eke out a living. Mrs Deborah Olutunji, a dealer of Irish potato told that in 2019 a bag of Irish was sold for between N20,000 to N24,000 but currently the bag is sold for N180, 000, bag of cabbage that was sold for N3,500 is now sold for between N19,000 to N22,000, the Cartoon of noodles (indomie) medium size was sold N77,500 but now N13,500.
Also, a visit to a recreational place known as Yellow page in phase 11, site 11, Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja was the same tale of hardship experience as the operators of the relaxation spots decried skyrocket price of fish( the well known point and kill and crocka fish).
Speaking with Mrs Ijeoma Peace Mark, the owner of the place is cool beer spot, said, ” Our business is not moving again. No money to eat not to talk more of coming out to eat fish and drink beer. Before now we use to buy cat fish 18 pieces of 25kg for N7,500 or sometimes N9,000 but now we buy the same quantity for N75,000. Carton of Crocka we used to buy N18,000 we now buy it N86,000.”
Speaking on the accommodation, Mr Obinwanne Ibezim, who is into real estate management confirmed high rate of accommodations in Kubwa.
Ibezim said, ” Really, I feel for many residents of Abuja who do not have their own property. Recently, Landlords in Abuja are increasing their rents in a way that many people have relocated to other places, others have even traveled outside the country. Before now, in Kubwa here, a family can get two bedroom flat at rate of N450.000 to N700,000 but now, one bed room in Kubwa is over million naira).
Calling on the federal government’s intervention, a mother of four, Mrs. Ruth Dave said her family is faced with hard decision of withdrawing one of their children from private school to public school due to Increase in school fees.
Mrs Dave who refused to disclose the name of her children’s school for safety of her wards said, ” My children who are in primary 2 , 3 and 5 were paying N18,000 school fees but it is increased to N25,000. Even though my husband and I don’t like public schools but we are faced with the option of withdrawing one who is already sound academically and enrol him in public school. Really, it is a hard decision we must make because our income is overstretched running the home. Even to renew our rent, landlord increased our rent by extra N15,000, it is not easy at all.”
Also, recall that in a bid to calm the aggrieved Nigerians who took to the streets of the country to protest for good governance, President Tinubu had read in his text that, “In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience
“My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
” This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
“We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration,”
Meanwhile some Nigerians have lauded President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying that they are a change that gear towards redirecting the nation’s economy in the positive dimension and sustainable development.