Chidera Prisca Nwokeukwu- Anambra
As protests against hunger and bad governance commenced around the country, Nigerians in Anambra State have expressed displeasure over the skyrocketing prices of food items in the market, which they blamed on current economic hardship.
Many who reacted to the situation on ground regretted that the situation has affected everything thereby impacting average Nigerians severely as prices of goods continue to rise daily, causing insecurity and unforeseen circumstances for average ordinary citizens.
Our correspondent interacted with some citizens of Anambra State, who decried the devastating effects of the situation on them. One of them, Mrs. Irene Eneh, described the current economic reality in the country as very pathetic as things have become largely unpredictable.
“Every time I run out of food and have to go to the market, I feel weak knowing that no matter how much money I bring, it will never be enough. The prices of foodstuffs have doubled and keep fluctuating.” Eneh said.
According to her, the situation has forced her family to take drastic steps to stay afloat in the face of the unfriendly reality. “I will have to withdraw my children from their current school to a cheaper one from next session because I can’t afford the increased fees.
“The current school increased their fees without considering the economic situation. I don’t think I can continue paying such an amount every term for four children. This situation has affected us significantly, ” she lamented.
Another resident of Awka, Mr. David Igwebuike, shared his struggles with the economic situation. “I got angry when my wife told me that she made moin moin. It sounds funny, but even common beans are now more expensive than rice. To make moin moin that will go round a family of six costs a lot.
“The situation has badly affected my finances. I no longer work to invest but to look for money to feed my family. That is my priority because children don’t understand the concept of no food and no water.
In the opinion of Mrs. Beatrice Ikpe, the country is slipping into hopelessness economically. “Anyone who still believes in this country needs to be examined. The worst part is that people are not even helping themselves,” the frustrated mother said.
“I went to the market to buy a cup of egusi, and the small cup used for measuring it really weakened me. As a government worker, it is not easy with me, two kids and a husband. Then I keep wondering how women with many children living in remote areas are surviving this.
Mrs. Ikpe was sad as she recalled the attitude of some traders who despite their religious backgrounds impose greater burden on ordinary Nigerians. “How can you buy something at a good price from a Muslim but at a higher price? We place greater burden on ourselves than our leaders are doing”.
Sharing her view on the nation’s economic reality, another woman, who gave her name simply as Mrs. Gladys, said everyone now needs to double his or her hustle to survive. “This is not a time for a woman to stay at home while the husband alone works to make ends meet unless the man does not plan to live long”.
“Everything is costly – plantain, yam, rice, potato, garri name them. Even common kpanla fish, which I usually avoided, is now very costly. Something that only thr low-class citizens managed, now competes in price with Titus fish,” she regretted even as she tasked every Nigerian to be the change he wants to see.
“Let the change start with us. We should stop adding extra money to what the average price should be in the market. As long as there is life and you have God, there is hope,” she further stated, highlight some compulsory changes she had effected as survival strategy. “I have been working as a private school teacher earning 40,000 for 3 years now but things keep adding prices for the past 1 year.
“I can’t stop wondering how those with large families and lower class citizens living in remote areas are coping because these things affect every part of the country”.
The respondents passionately appealed to the government to find an urgent solution to the problem and give average Nigerians a reason to smile again. “While we keep hoping in God for positive change, we call on the government of this country to please look into this as the sufferings are getting out of control,” one of them said.
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