Just as Nigerians were beginning to cope and adjust to the new challenges brought about by the global Coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian government recently announced an increase in electricity tariff and the pump price of fuel. This is a move that most Nigerians find unbearable as they in this vox-pop with JOY NGWOLO voiced their pains.
“Corruption is the major challenge we face in Nigeria” – Oseloka Ibeziako
Most people are coming out from a bad experience, which is the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Before the increment, we were having a better power supply but after the increment, it became epileptic. It means that it was just a plot for us to accept the increment. The government claims that there is no money to fund the power industry but they spent billions trying to feed school children that were at home. My view on this is that the government is not using the money to do anything worthwhile but they believe Nigerians are stupid. If sacrifices should be made, it should cut across all sectors even the politicians. Nigerians are suffering and the government is not doing about it. I am yet to see any government in Nigeria who is truly concerned about the masses. Corruption is a major problem we have in Nigeria.
“It will affect the prices of goods and importation” -Dave Ashibel
It has affected the middle class and the low class too because it is not everyone in Nigeria that is buoyant enough to cope with the hike in fuel price. Nowadays, even with a prepaid meter, it is difficult to buy the amount of power that will last one for weeks unlike before when it was very affordable for everybody. The state of the economy has impoverished many, and the citizens are really suffering. If there is an increment in fuel price, it will definitely affect the price of goods and importation. A rubber paint of garri is N1200 presently, for a family of five, that amount of garri will not even last them for up to a week. I think the government should look into it and reduce the prices of these things because it is not putting smiles on the faces of people.
“I spend more than half of my salary on transportation” -Akinku Oluwaseun
Before the hike in fuel price, my transportation fare to the office was nothing less than 300 but now it has doubled and I have to spend more than half of my salary on transportation. If transportation is taking half of my salary, how do I pay my other bills? I also have to feed myself; family is there too. It is very unbearable and salaries are not increased based on the fuel price hike. The electricity has not affected me that much because the difference between what I was paying before is only 200 naira. During the pandemic, people were restricted from going out to work and now that the restriction has been lifted, the government is imposing more suffering on the people.
“They increased our bill but we don’t have regular power supply” -Ibikunle Rahmat
They increased our bill but we don’t have a regular power supply. Before we were paying 10,000 but this month the bill says we have to pay 21,000 and we are not happy about it. I don’t think this is the best time to do this because people are suffering. The increase in fuel price means there will also be an increase in the cost of transportation.
“I use a pre-paid meter so it does not affect me”- Lateef Alao
I think the government should reduce the price of fuel. I buy fuel at a high price and the worst part is that the sellers still hoard fuel. Just recently, I bought some fuel but when I put it in my car, I discovered that the gauge did not rise well, which shows me that the attendants were not sincere in the amount of fuel they sold to me. With the new increase in fuel price, I can’t imagine how horrible it will be. But as for the electricity bills, I don’t have issues with them because I use a pre-paid meter so it does not affect me.
“The problem is with the government” – Janet Sunday
There is so much hardship already, it is difficult to eat 3 square meals a day, and yet the government is increasing the electricity bills and fuel price, which shows that they don’t care about the masses. Nowadays, even graduates out of joblessness resort to riding Keke NAPEPS and bikes. Some even go about begging, sometimes you will see someone well-dressed people coming to beg you for money. The government decided to close the borders which have affected my trade. I used to sell pineapples before but because of the border closure, we could no longer import pineapples and I have had to resort to selling groundnuts. In my home state, Akwa Ibom, palliatives were distributed to people but here in Lagos, it only goes to some people, others do not receive anything. The government should think of ways to solve our problems, not add to them.
