Is This Our Nigeria?

By Rabi Ummi Umar

“A reality check is not a punishment, but a reminder to refocus — Unknown”

Mondays are often regarded as the most stressful day of the week. The pressure of arriving at work on time and getting tasks done can weigh heavily on people. However, I have grown past that mindset; to me, every day feels the same. Some believe that Mondays set the tone for the week.

On this particular Monday, I was exhausted and frustrated after a long, grueling day at work. It was just another typical Monday at Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) headquarters in Abuja, where I work as an intern.

As I finished my work, relieved to be done, I opened my e-hailing motor apps in search of a ride home. This has become a routine after my usual 9-to-5 workday. However, this time was different. Rides were scarce, and frustration crept in, especially since it had begun to pour heavily.

After several attempts—and after asking my co-workers to try their apps as well, from Bolt to Uber and even inDrive—I finally secured an Uber ride. The wait had been long due to the rain and heavy demand, and when I saw the fare, I was shocked by how exorbitant it was.

The driver eventually arrived, and I hurriedly left the office to meet him. As soon as I entered the vehicle, we exchanged greetings, and I fastened my seatbelt. Leaning against the window, I savoured the cold air while trying to make sense of the chaos around me.

Frustration mounted as we remained stuck near the office, surrounded by noise and commotion. Cars honked incessantly, drivers vented their frustration at the gridlocked roads, and some vehicles even bumped into each other. It wasn’t hard to guess the source of their irritation—hours spent queuing for fuel and the rush to make some money before the day’s end. But should this be our reality?

Meanwhile, commuters struggled to secure rides home, and many car owners had abandoned their vehicles due to the rising cost of fuel. Hawkers called out to prospective customers, trying to make sales despite the high cost of living. They are fighting tooth and nail just to feed their families. Should this be our reality?

Nigerians have been battered by one crisis after another, but the most recent and devastating blow is the fuel hike, which has affected everyone—from pedestrians and drivers to households and children. Should this be our reality?

Many people are suffering, and some are even dying from poverty. It has become difficult to make ends meet, even for those with money, let alone for those without. The question of “Renewed Hope” still lingers in the hearts of Nigerians, who are now forced to adapt to one unfavorable situation after another. Should this be our reality?

Citizens have gone from hoping for change to simply wanting to survive. Things have taken such an extreme turn that no one even knows where we are headed anymore, let alone what our final destination might be. Should this be our reality?

As I watched these events unfold in just a few minutes—traffic worsening and the rain still drizzling—my mind drifted back to Maiduguri, where people are still grappling with the aftermath of flooding, which claimed many lives and destroyed properties. How are they coping with such devastation? On rainy days like this, do they even have shelter to protect themselves? This sobering thought made me appreciate everything I have, even more. Should this be their reality?

Earlier, I had been scrolling through TikTok and came across a shocking video—suspected bandits conducting a ‘giveaway’ on social media. I was stunned. While we’ve been forced to accept that terrorists have a presence online, the audacity to carry out such acts openly is alarming. It seems they no longer fear any authority. Should this be our reality?

I switched to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to clear my mind, only to find someone had already tweeted about it: “Bandits dey do giveaway for TikTok, God, which kind country you put me so?” I couldn’t resist checking the replies. While some responses were humorous, the situation underscored one grim reality—we are in deep trouble. Should this be our reality?

Many found the situation laughable. Some even wanted to participate in the bandits’ giveaway because the country has become so tough. But this is extremely worrying. Have we become so numb to our reality? Are we really succumbing to these circumstances? Should this be our reality?

This is the state of Nigeria today. A reality check, as the opening quote suggests, is not a reprimand, but an opportunity to refocus. It is time for both the government and citizens to work together for a better, more hopeful reality.

Rabi Ummi Umar is an intern at PRNigeria and a student of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. She can be reached via [email protected].