The Situation Is Not Friendly

Nigeria and its hardship are becoming something else. It's not a new thing, but this time new to all of us.

One of my neighbours is always supporting this present government. He has been the news carrier and the one who can die just because of this recent government. He can argue from morning to night without stopping just to defend this present government. One day, I called him to order, but he turned it into a fight. I told home plainly that I cannot fight with you because you own your life and know how to unwrap your mouth just to defend who is making the masses go through hell.

I asked him, “How much have you received from them and where is the foodstuff they have bought in your house?” He said don't worry, I'm OK even if they did not give me a dime.
I nodded and said, “Don't worry, we are facing it together”. Just two days ago, he began to pour out curses on the government after seeing the price of fuel. The kind of curses he raised were harsh and tough. I told him that “But they are your people”. He did not allow me to land before responding, “They are all liars and thieves”. “Oh, it's now that you know, right?” I said, and he was mute without saying a word.

Damian Barkzak

The situation is not friendly.
I travelled to my home town just to visit my parents. I spent just a little money on transportation. I kept the same sum of money that I would use to transport myself back home. While in the village, I began to carry my shoulder, telling my friends I had arrived. I was spending lavishly just for people to praise me. I was not ready to visit my bank account as the money I had saved was to cater for my transportation.

Likewise, I was fuelling my dad's small generator day and night just because of the bit of money with me.

Not only that, but I was living the life of a big girl in the village, spending money like never before. I said, “When I get home, I will make more and even extra”.

“Besides, my newly elected president would be sworn in two days and everything would normalize”, I said, claiming to be a big girl.

When the sworn-in day finally arrived, I was eager to watch the process and his speech. When he was finalizing his speech, he said, “My fellow Nigerians!!! Subsidy has gone”. I was initially thinking it would not affect the cost of things and fuel so suddenly, but to my surprise, fuel that they were initially selling for #180 was increased to #650. I was like, “What is happening?” Immediately, the transportation price was more than tripled. It was like five times the usual amount. It was initially #7,000 and now #35,000. “Where and how would I go back home?”

I have been claiming a big girl at home, buying fuel day and night and even leaving the generator until dawn. “What a rich lady!”. Now, the once big girl has become stranded. I was ashamed of begging for money from my friends, likewise my parents. My mum warned me to limit the way to spend, but I was so adamant and ready to show off.

Please don't ask me if I'm still at home because on your own is my present name.

Being a novice is somehow very costly. A friend of mine took us for outings, and she was somehow buoyant enough, and her account was laughing, although with her salary. Her monthly salary was very meagre and yet, she decided to take us for an outing. As we got there, she ordered a plate of fried rice and two laps of chicken. I could not hold it but ordered two laps of chicken and a bottle of Coke. My other friend also ordered the same thing I had ordered for.

She said we should eat and enjoy ourselves.

The last time I checked, a bottle of coke was sold for #200, a plate of fried rice was sold for #1200, and a lap of chocolate was also sold for #1500×6 making a total of #9000 but when it was time to pay for the bills, the price was not palatable to the ear. Everything was increased by three to four times the usual amount. I kept mute, and my friend was mad as her account balance cannot even pay for the bills. My account balance was also not smiling and my other friend who came with us was as poor as myself.

We were trying to beg, but they could not listen and instead called security.
Preamble, I don't know where they took her to.