Some Nigerians have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make their economic burdens lighter, amid high inflation and unbearable cost living.

From the sharp rise in fuel pump price in 2024, which caused steady hike in the prices of commodities, especially food items, to hike in electricity tariff, growing unemployment, as well as insecurity that keeps taking deadlier dimensions, Nigerian citizens have expressed worry about what is ahead.

For many, the President and the managers of the economy have to do everything possible to make the economy better.

Peter Ogaga, a Niger Delta human right activist, said: “Forget about the queues at the airports by passengers travelling for the festive season. Many more couldn’t afford rice and chicken last festive season. Many Nigerians suffered last year and we are asking Mr. President and his team to lighten our burden because if you think you are rich now, requests from many relations, friends and even enemies, will impoverish you within a year.”

Marcel Tamuno, a marine engineer, also added: “It is becoming embarrassing the way people beg for alms, especially money for food. The requests are not only from your relations, but they come from all angles- friends, people in your estate, your mechanic, barber, tailor, shop attendants and even co-workers and strangers.

“It is a sad reflection of the harsh situation out there and the government should, as a matter of urgency, do something to address hunger in the land this year.”

Onyewuchi Akagbule, a senior lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, added his voice by stating: “The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the military regime is obviously back through the back door. But political leaders and government officials seem not to be part of the belt-tightening thing; only the masses are feeling it.

“Mr. President and others in Aso Rock and government houses in the states should adjust as well, especially this 2025. You cannot share bags of local rice when you eat foreign brands, you cannot travel abroad for medical checks when Aso Rock Hospital is ill-equipped, you cannot fly helicopter to your hometown when the road is bad, because the contractor has settled you. Some, don’t even eat our beef, they import from Botswana and their children have just returned to London, Paris and Atlanta after the festive holiday. So, where is the sincerity in fixing the economy, this should not continue this year.”

For Abidemi Amosu, a banker, fighting food inflation is more urgent now than anything.

“Imagine 50kg of rice selling above N100,000 and it is not imported. How many people can afford it even if the minimum wage was N100,000?

“Many families had nothing to eat last Christmas and are still managing to eat this new year. The government should look down with pity, the situation is bad and we that earn salaries can tell because we hardly save anything after meeting the many requests for assistance from relatives and friends,” Amosu said.

According to the banker, no country practices full capitalism even America that champions it; hence, there should be a form of control to ensure price stability.

“Now, fuel price is coming down, but transport fares are not and food prices are still high. As much as the government is aggressive at implementing its economic policies, it should monitor results at all levels to ensure no sabotage in the system. Even if dollar comes down to N500, many will still not reduce their prices and that is where a responsible government comes in,” he said.

For Idrisu Yahaya, a Plateau State farmer, hunger will persist in 2025 if the government does not sincerely fight insecurity, especially in the rural areas, where terrorist attacks have not allowed farming.

“We do not import most food items again and our farmers do not farm like before because of the fear of attacks by bandits and hoodlums. So, how do you expect Nigeria to feed its people? The government knows this and should fight insecurity sincerely if they want hunger to go in 2025,” he said.

Now that two refineries and a private one are working, Samuel Onikoyi, a Nigerian diaspora, is tasking the government to capitalise on the feat to boost the economy in 2025.

“We are happy with what is happening in the oil sector now. But the reduction in fuel pump price should continue this year to ensure stability in the economy. It will also impact dollar if sustained and reduce prices of commodities, especially food items,” Onikoyi said.