Abba Dukawa
DEFINITELY, year 2023, was one of the hardest years Nigerians has ever undergone through after the ugly experience of civil war. After 8 years of past immediate administration clueless policies Nigerians never wished the next administration to followed former regime paths but hoping to have best brain economic team that would came up with policies that will help the country to attains it’s economy ambition.
Not inhuman policies that will turned many Nigerians to paupers overnight. Life became miserable for the larger population of Nigerians.
It is clear to all and sundry that Nigeria is presently at the edge of the precipice in terms of the economic, security, food security, social, political, and ethno-religious predicament.
Without any oita of doubt the administration took over a bankrupt economy when it came in. But then the newest administration laying the foundation of the recent country misfortune and hardship.
In the backdrop of the hardship, Mr. President inaugural speeches has significantly contributed to the present situation with his single paragraph the fuel subsidy is gone.
Few days later, the administration also announced the unification of the dual exchange rate of the naira which the administration inherited. Again, Naira that was exchanging at N700 to a dollar then is now above N1,200.The unification has not been achieved as the Naira each passing day getting weaker at the black market.
These twice evil policies overnight turned many Nigerians to paupers. Life became miserable for the larger population of Nigerians. To feed is now a herculean task for many families. Nigerians are now picking food from the garbage. Now, poor families are deliberately sending their children into modern-day slavery all in a bid to survive the hard times. Some are turned to domestic helps, while others are lured into prostitution both at home and in foreign lands.
The World Bank said that there are over 133 million Nigerians suffering from what it called multi-dimensional poverty. The Nation has never had it so bad!
Those that are working are finding it difficult to cope due to the high cost of most essentials. Worse, millions are unemployed. Prices of foodstuff and other household essentials are always on the increase on an hourly basis.
These evil decision decision of putting the cart before the horse, as there was no policy alternative that could deaden the pain it inflicts on the masses, masses are tired off with usual rhetoric of the country rulers “I feel your pains; we need to make sacrifices by enduring the pain”, among others. But Nigerians have had enough of those rhetoric, to last them a lifetime.
Though the past saven months was a very challenging one, it was hardest years for Nigerians in so many ways. Even though he admitted the suffering of poor citizens but the administration seems like it’s not done the needful to alleviate the suffering
Dukawa a public affair commentator on print and online medium Mondays.
