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In less than 48 hours, the world will be celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. But on that day, Monday, December 25, 2023, millions of Nigerian Christians will not be able to celebrate. This is not because they don’t want to mark the day like their counterparts across the globe but because the present economic realities has deprived many Nigerians of the yuletide merriments.
From Lagos to Maiduguri, and across the 36 states of the federation, a survey conducted by our correspondents shows that, many Christian faithful have jettisoned the idea of marking this year’s Christmas celebration the way they have planned. Many people opined that, as a result of the current economic meltdown, occasioned by the increase in fuel pump price, high inflation, resurgence of cash crunch and an epileptic banking system which has made access to physical cash difficult, it would be a wishful thinking to expect any merriment.
Checks by our correspondents revealed that prices of goods and services are already being increased due to the several factors and the festive period which always see to astronomical increase in prices. Many of our respondents believe that the economic crunch on Nigerians since the inception of the present administration has become unbearable, saying that the resultant effect of fuel subsidy, removal which many believe never existed in the first place, has turned many people to paupers.
Abuja residents lament
Nigerians living in Abuja lamented over the high cost of food items and transportation as the cost of interstate trip is tripled what it used to be. This was made known in an exclusive interview conducted by Saturday Telegraph with some Nigerians resident in Abuja. James Orinya, a business man in Abuja noted that the cost of traveling from Abuja to his homestate is doubled, if not tripled against what it used to be, lamenting that many people have forgotten the plan of traveling because of the cost and the resources is not available.
“When you talk about food items, nothing is cheap now. On the 20th of December I bought a minimum sized chicken at the rate of 15,000, already there are speculations that the price will go as high as 18,000 to 20,000 from 23rd. Turkey is 60,000. The only thing that the price seems stable since November is rice which is sold at 40, 000, 50,000 and 52,000 depending on the quality. “Parents will always do what they are supposed to do by making sure their children have something new to wear on Christmas day. What I did this year is to buy just an outfit for each of my children instead of three or four sets I usually buy.
There are other very pressing issues to address such as their feeding and school fees because school resumes in January and they are expected to pay as soon as they resume. I hate to be stranded or embarrassed, so I plan myself and attend to issues that are pressing”. As for Dorcas Opaluwa, a private school teacher, she said: “Parks are empty, people are not traveling as before except those that have special occasions to attend in the village. I am traveling because three of my cousins are getting married otherwise I would have remained. From Abuja to Lokoja is 10,000. “Daily contribution has really helped me in terms of food items.
Everything is expensive vegetable oil is 50,000 per 25litre now. I did not buy new clothes for any of my children this year because I just can’t afford them. Children’s clothes are so expensive so I will just iron the one they used last year since they are still in good condition”. Keju Pius, a widow said: “I feel pained, this time last year I planned Christmas with my husband but this year it is a different ball game. I can’t afford to buy new clothes for the children because I just finish paying their school fees and the house rent. Since my husband my husband died, the whole family responsibility is on me”.
High Cost unsettles many in Bauchi
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