Anxiety, Anguish As 2020 Beckons

As the year 2019 is gradually coming to an end, Nigerians are looking up with nostalgia on what 2020 holds for them


December is the last month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is also a month that heralds January, the first month of a new year. It follows therefore, that both Christians, Muslims, traditionalists and even atheists and all other kinds of religion the world over, are thrown into celebration mood in thanks giving to their maker that has made it possible for them to witness yet another year. The celebration mood so activated is without recourse to the economy. However, the velocity is tied to the economic wellbeing of the citizens and the political, security and convivial atmosphere of a given country as this varies from country to country.

The season, as it is called is very engaging. Activities are piled up as most people plan their engagements within the period. Marriage ceremonies, conferment of chieftaincy titles, house warming, burial ceremonies and other events are scheduled to hold this season. This is the more reason that boisterous activities shift from the towns to the villages. Most people throng the villages to celebrate with their loved ones. It is a season of home coming, thus, the rush, hustle and bustle that characterize the season. However, in Nigeria the year 2019 that is preparing to usher in the year 2020 has been everything but rosy. Indeed, it has been gloomy and bleak in the last few years but has been deteriorating steadily prompting citizens to be wearing long faces, irritable and even committing suicide in such a magnitude that has never been witnessed in the annals of the country.

In almost every segment of the nation, there seem to be no respite for anybody as the situation has thrown up a very disillusioned, exasperated and angry people. Yes, they are angry as they say, “a hungry man is an angry man’’. The citizens have for long kept the faith and are still keeping it but have obviously become disillusioned. It is written all over them. Numerous people have experienced job cuts in several sectors especially the banks and many mega companies have relocated from Nigeria leaving in its trail wailing families.

As if the economic quagmire is not enough, citizens are faced with numerous security challenges both on the roads and at their homes. They bear the cost of security, health and public utilities even as housing challenge has remained unabated. Commuters groan on the parlous state of the roads just as travellers wail over attacks by armed robbers, bandits, kidnappers and insurgents. To add to the suffocating needs of the people, is the rising cost of food stuff especially rice which is the staple food for Nigerians. Rising high cost of living without good standard of living has combined to add to the woes. Food stuff and transportation have plummeted without corresponding increase on earnings. The increase in minimum wage for Nigerian workers as announced by the federal government is yet to be implemented, yet market women and transporters have jerked up the prices of goods and services.

It is an annual ritual that whether one wants to travel or not, enough preparations have to be made for one’s immediate family and neighbours. It becomes more elaborate as provisions would be made for people in the village. It is a period of giving and that is the reason for bulk buying so that gifts can exchange hands. It is also a period for holidays even though Nigerians don’t have holiday culture. But generally, there is reduced work pace as most people prefer to rest and enjoy what they have laboured for months.

With Christmas and New Year by the corner, Nigerians who have spoken to us, expressed worry on what the 2019 Christmas would look like. Onyinye Okafor, a house wife and civil servant who resides in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, jokingly told our correspondent that the 2019 Christmas looks like it’s going to be postponed even though it can’t ever happen. She said that at about this period in the past when she was growing up, her parents would have completed shopping and would just be waiting anxiously for the d-day. Rather, people are still busy hustling for money while the children are anxiously waiting to be treated. Also, Mike Okon, who sells wares in Wuse market, expressed reservations at the pace of shopping this period. He attributed the low Christmas shopping to the economic hardship that is strangulating the people. This is even as he exuded confidence that it will pick up in the coming days.

The same story is everywhere from east to west, north to south. It is the same scenario in different shops for different items as there seems to be cash squeeze. At the markets, traders are also complaining of low patronage just as the motor parks are recording low passengers. Perhaps, the airports may record huge success because of the spate of attacks on the roads. Moreso, the elite that are a minimal population have the money and can afford to fly because they have numerous cars at various destinations. Much as the anti-graft war being prosecuted by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is good, many Nigerians have attributed the excruciating hunger to it. They argue that those who have the money are afraid to use it and it is no longer going round. Some people have however attributed the situation to some economic measures taken by the federal government coupled with the galloping inflation and border closure all combined to suffocate the Nigerian people. The numerous check points at every twist and turns mounted by the Nigerian security outfits has added to the burden of commuters who are daily struggling with the bad roads all over the country. Transporters say they increase fares because of bad roads and several check points that have become “extortion points’. The rate of inflation has led some experts to prophesy more hardship in the future.