Living on the Brink

Honestly, when one looks at the situation of things in this country, it is hard not to think deeply about where we are heading as a people. Things have become so difficult that they have gone beyond pointing fingers or blaming any particular person or government. At this point, it has become a matter of personal survival and individual conscience. Every day, one wakes up wondering how to make ends meet, how to provide for the family, and how to stay sane in a system that seems to work against its own people.

It is sad to see people work tirelessly and still have nothing to show for their efforts. Many civil servants and private workers alike spend long hours at work, yet their salaries can hardly sustain them for two weeks after payday. Imagine someone who has given years of service to the government but still lives from hand to mouth. People now joke that many “work like an elephant and eat like an ant,” but the truth behind that saying is heartbreaking. How can one keep working hard when the reward for labour no longer matches the effort?

The cost of living is now at its peak, and it’s not just numbers on paper. it’s reality biting hard. The price of food, rent, transportation, and even basic household items has skyrocketed. As a salary earner, it is difficult to breathe financially. Every month feels like a battle for survival. I often wonder how those who survive on daily earnings or petty trading manage to cope. Many wake up each morning not knowing what they will eat by evening, yet they keep going. The strength of the average Nigerian is truly remarkable, but it is unfair that people have to suffer this much in their own country.

When a society becomes this hard, crime naturally increases. People who once lived honestly are now being pushed to the wall. It is not to justify wrongdoing, but hunger and desperation can make people do unimaginable things. Nowadays, fraud and deceit have found their way into every corner. Even business owners who should be helping to build the economy now use their platforms to extort innocent people. Many online investment platforms have turned out to be scams, promising unrealistic returns just to collect people’s hard-earned money. It is painful to see how greed and frustration have taken over integrity.

The government, which should be a source of hope, has become the biggest disappointment. Those in power seem disconnected from the reality of the masses. Policies are made without considering how they affect the common people. Taxes keep rising, yet there is nothing tangible to show for all the payments we make. Roads are bad, electricity is unstable, schools are struggling, and hospitals are in poor condition. What exactly are we paying for? It feels as if leadership has turned into a personal business venture, where those who get into power see it as an opportunity to enrich themselves and their families.

Looking ahead, one can only pray and hope that things change for the better. But hope alone is not enough; we all must play our part. It starts with honesty, contentment, and a sincere desire to rebuild the values that have been lost. Until then, we keep surviving, one day at a time, in a country that tests our patience yet somehow strengthens our resilience.