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Editorial

What does it mean to survive in Nigeria?

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, is a country where survival is a daily struggle. From the crowded streets of Lagos to the isolated rural villages in the north region, the quest for survival is a constant theme that resonates across all facets of life.

For many Nigerians, survival means waking up every morning without a guarantee of where the next meal will come from. It means braving the chaotic streets, navigating through gridlocked traffic, and facing the harsh realities of an economy in shambles.

As Nigeria’s current President, Bola Tinubu, took office in May 2023, hopes for a revival of the economy and better governance soared among many Nigerians.

Yet, more than a year into his administration, survival for the average Nigerian remains an arduous task. Tinubu’s regime, while embarking on reforms, has inherited deep-rooted economic challenges. For millions, navigating daily life has become a balancing act of overcoming inflation, job scarcity, and rising costs of basic necessities.

Survival under Tinubu’s government is not just about getting by—it’s about weathering a storm of policies, economic downturns, and systemic issues that make daily living a struggle.

A Country in Crisis: The Economic Landscape

Nigeria’s economy, though bolstered by its status as an oil-producing giant, is weighed down by inflation, high costs of living, and unstable markets. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has painted a grim picture of the state of the economy, with inflation reaching 32.15% in August 2024. The cost of food, transportation, and essential goods continues to rise, outpacing the growth in wages. For many families, even basic necessities have become luxuries.

The price of a healthy diet, a measure tracked closely by the NBS, underscores the economic burden faced by ordinary Nigerians. The national average cost of a healthy diet stood at N1,255 per adult per day in August 2024, a staggering 28% increase from March of the same year. In wealthier states like Lagos, the cost climbs even higher, reaching N1,615 per day, compared to N880 in poorer northern states like Katsina. While this disparity highlights regional inequalities, the reality is that across the country, the rising cost of living has left many struggling to afford even a modest meal.

Inflation and Scarcity: The Food Crisis

One of the stark realities under Tinubu’s regime is the struggle to afford food. Nigeria, which once prided itself on its agricultural capacity, has seen food prices spiral out of control. The NBS reports that the cost of a healthy diet increased by 28% between March and August 2024, meaning the average adult needs N1,255 per day just to afford balanced meals. For most families, this is an unattainable amount. In urban centers like Lagos and Rivers, where the cost of living is already high, the price for daily meals goes up to N1,615, making survival even harder. For a country where over 40% of the population lives below the poverty line, this situation is catastrophic.

Staples like yam, maize, and palm oil have become luxuries for many. As food inflation hit 37.52% in August 2024, the poor are finding it difficult to meet even their basic nutritional needs. The hardest hit are the rural and low-income populations who make up a significant portion of Nigeria’s populace. For these individuals, subsistence is no longer guaranteed through farming or informal trade. Instead, survival depends on finding creative ways to stretch limited resources, often going hungry or skipping meals.

Employment Woes and Unstable Incomes

The Nigerian labour market offers no reprieve from the harsh economic environment. While the official unemployment rate for Q1 2024 stands at 5.3%, this number masks deeper problems.

The employment-to-population ratio, which stood at 73.2%, reveals that many of those working are underemployed, toiling in low-paying jobs with insufficient hours. The self-employment rate, traditionally high in Nigeria, fell to 84% in Q1 2024, reflecting the waning opportunities in the informal sector.

In rural areas, where 91.9% of the workforce relies on self-employment, the situation is particularly bleak. As agricultural outputs struggle under the weight of poor infrastructure, climate change, and market volatility, many rural workers are finding it difficult to maintain a sustainable income.

Transportation Costs: An Unaffordable Journey

For many Nigerians, transportation is both a necessity and a financial burden. The price for a bus ride within cities, which many depend on to commute to work, rose from N942.61 in July 2024 to N869.35 in August. Intercity travel also spiked, with fares increasing by 0.59%, pushing it to N7,159 per trip.

Airfares, while generally out of reach for most Nigerians, saw a staggering 56.56% increase, with an average cost of N123,700 per flight. Even motorcycle rides, often the transportation of last resort for many in urban and rural areas alike, saw fares rise to N524.22 in August.

As fuel prices more than doubled, the cost of living increased across every sector, with businesses raising their prices to cope with rising transportation and production costs. This surge in transportation costs not only cuts into household budgets but also restricts the mobility of workers seeking employment or business opportunities, further entrenching the economic divide between regions. The average Nigerian saw their wages remain stagnant, making survival a day-to-day hustle.

The Thin Line Between Progress and Hardship

Tinubu’s administration has introduced several reforms aimed at reviving the economy, including the unification of the exchange rate system and efforts to attract foreign investment. While these moves are necessary for long-term economic stability, the immediate effect on the average Nigerian has been harsh. The removal of fuel subsidies, in particular, has hit the poorest the hardest. It’s a gamble that aims to reduce government debt and improve infrastructure in the long run, but for now, it has increased the cost of everything from food to transportation.

For many Nigerians, the pain of these reforms feels like a punishment. The promises of a better tomorrow are overshadowed by the stark reality of rising living costs today. Tinubu has spoken of the need for sacrifice, but for those already living on the margins, this is a difficult pill to swallow.

Survival in Urban Nigeria: The Lagos Experience

In cities like Lagos, survival is a constant hustle. With over 15 million people jostling for limited resources, the pressure to earn a living is immense. Traffic gridlock, daily power outages, and water shortages are part of everyday life for many. Jobs in the formal sector are scarce, and most residents depend on informal trade or side hustles to get by. Street vendors, artisans, and small business owners make up a significant portion of the workforce, but even they are feeling the pinch.

Rent in Lagos has become unaffordable for most low-income earners, forcing many into overcrowded, substandard housing or even homelessness. For those lucky enough to have jobs, a significant portion of their income goes toward transportation, leaving little left over for food or savings. The removal of the fuel subsidy has hit these individuals the hardest, as their daily costs have risen without any corresponding increase in wages.

Rural Nigeria: A Different Kind of Struggle

In rural areas, the challenges are different but no less severe. Agriculture, the mainstay of the rural economy, is facing a myriad of problems, including poor infrastructure, lack of access to credit, and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change. Farmers struggle to produce enough food to feed their families, let alone sell at a profit. With transportation costs increasing, it has become harder to move goods to urban markets, further exacerbating rural poverty.

Despite these challenges, rural Nigerians are known for their resilience. Communities often band together to support each other, sharing resources and pulling together in times of crisis. While this spirit of communal support has helped many survive, it is not a substitute for the structural reforms needed to lift rural areas out of poverty.

A Country at a Crossroads

As Tinubu’s government approaches the halfway mark of his term, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The country has immense potential, but without swift and targeted action, the economic situation may worsen for millions of citizens. While the administration’s policies may pay off in the long run, the short-term sacrifices required are squeezing the average Nigerian’s ability to survive.

Survival in Nigeria is not just an individual struggle; it is a national one. For millions of Nigerians, the hope for a better tomorrow is often overshadowed by the need to make it through today.

Until the economic landscape stabilises and the government takes meaningful steps to curb inflation, provide jobs, and reduce the cost of living, the daily struggle for survival will continue.

In Nigeria, survival is more than a battle against poverty—it is a battle for dignity, for hope, and for the future. The question remains: how long can the Nigerian people continue to survive under such immense pressure?

In the words of a Lagos street vendor: “We are surviving, but we are barely living.”

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Editorial

Young 9ja Boys and Murder: A Cry for Help

The term “Yahoo,” once associated with a popular email service (Yahoo Mail), has now become synonymous with internet fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria. It refers to a range of online scams predominantly perpetrated by young Nigerian men, often targeting unsuspecting individuals and businesses, particularly in Western countries.

In neighbouring Ghana, these fraudsters are known as “Sakawa boys,” a term derived from the Hausa language. The origins of “Yahoo” fraud trace back to the early 2000s, though they are seen as descendants of the infamous “419 scammers,” who initially used letters and then email scams to promise financial rewards in exchange for advance fees. The number “419” itself is derived from a section of the Nigerian Criminal Code that pertains to fraud.

However, the criminal activities of Yahoo Boys have now expanded beyond simple internet scams. The intersection of cybercrime, ritual killings, and deep-seated cultural beliefs has created a dangerous phenomenon in Nigeria, one that has had tragic consequences for its victims and a profound impact on Nigerian society.

The Appeal of Yahoo Boys

The allure of becoming a “Yahoo Boy” lies in the prospect of acquiring quick and substantial wealth. In a country plagued by high unemployment, economic instability, and limited job opportunities, many young Nigerians view internet fraud as a way out of poverty.

For some, the internet offers the chance to connect with potential victims across the globe, increasing their chances of success. This path, though illegal and immoral, often appears easier than the daily struggle for survival in a harsh economic climate.

Yet, the consequences of this criminal lifestyle are far-reaching, extending beyond financial gain. The rising culture of materialism, combined with societal pressures to achieve wealth, has led some Yahoo Boys to resort to extreme measures, including ritual killings, to enhance their fortunes.

Ritual Murders: A Dark Side of Yahoo Fraud

In Nigerian society, certain traditional beliefs hold that rituals involving human sacrifice can bring wealth, power, or success. This belief, combined with the desperation of young men seeking to enrich themselves, has contributed to a horrifying increase in ritual killings. Victims, often young women or children, are seen as possessing qualities that can be “harvested” for ritualistic purposes.

One such tragic case was that of Jennifer Anthony, a university student who was reportedly murdered by her “Yahoo Boy” boyfriend. Her gruesome death, which involved the removal of her eyes and other body parts, pointed to a ritual killing motivated by the desire for wealth.

Jennifer’s death is just one in a long line of similar incidents where individuals—often women—are targeted for ritual purposes, with promises of material gain driving these heinous acts.

Similarly, the murder of Damilola Olowoyo, a 17-year-old undergraduate at the Federal University, Lokoja, shocked the nation. Her alleged killer, Jeremiah Awe, reportedly lured her into a bush, drugged her, and killed her for ritual purposes.

In a particularly disturbing twist, Jeremiah then contacted her parents, demanding a ransom under the pretence that she had been kidnapped, using the money for his ritualistic pursuits. This case underscores how modern technology, such as social media platforms like TikTok, has made it easier for criminals to connect with and exploit individuals.

High-Profile Cases of Ritual Killings

Ritual killings, often associated with the Yahoo Boys phenomenon, have taken a distressing turn, with an alarming rise in such cases in recent years. Some prominent examples include:

  • Mojisola Awesu, a 21-year-old graduate of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, who was lured to a hotel under the guise of attending a party and murdered by four men. Her death, for a meager sum of N15,000, was another chilling reminder of the lengths to which some criminals will go for ritual purposes.
  • In Ibadan, Oyo State, a middle-aged man, Alfa Ahmed, brutally murdered his visually impaired grandfather and ill uncle in a ritual killing intended to bring him wealth.
  • Ridwan, a 20-year-old man from Ogun State, made headlines in 2023 for killing his own father as part of a ritual designed to bring financial success.

These cases, among many others, paint a disturbing picture of a society grappling with a dangerous mix of modern technology and ancient, superstitious beliefs.

Gender Imbalance and Vulnerable Victims

A particularly troubling aspect of this trend is the overwhelming number of female victims in ritual killings. Women and girls are often targeted, with civil society groups and local media reporting an increasing threat to their safety.

Statistics from the West African Network for Peace Building reveal that between January 2021 and January 2022, Nigeria recorded 185 ritual-related deaths. Of these, 43 were women and 30 were children, highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of women to these crimes.

The Societal Impact of Yahoo Boys and Ritual Killings

The activities of Yahoo Boys, especially when intertwined with ritual killings, have had a profound impact on Nigerian society. These crimes erode trust, undermine the rule of law, and perpetuate a culture of violence and impunity. Victims and their families are left traumatised, while the broader society grapples with the moral decay that has allowed such crimes to flourish.

At the heart of this crisis lies a breakdown in traditional values. The desire for quick wealth has replaced principles of hard work and integrity, and the moral fabric of Nigerian society appears to be unravelling. The rise of ritual killings, fueled by the activities of Yahoo Boys, represents not just a criminal issue but a deep-seated societal problem that demands urgent attention.

The Need for Immediate Action

Addressing the rise of Yahoo Boys and ritual killings requires a multifaceted approach. First, law enforcement must be strengthened, and the legal system needs to ensure that perpetrators of these crimes are swiftly brought to justice. Additionally, community education and awareness campaigns should aim to dispel the myths surrounding ritual sacrifices and address the root causes of desperation that drive young men into criminal activity.

Efforts must also be made to create economic opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, reducing the allure of quick and illegal gains. Programmes focusing on skill development, entrepreneurship, and education can provide alternative pathways for young people, steering them away from lives of crime and violence.

Finally, there must be a renewed commitment to strengthening traditional values of integrity, hard work, and respect for human life. Only through concerted effort and societal change can Nigeria hope to reverse the dangerous trend of ritual killings and Yahoo fraud that threatens to destabilise the country.

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Editorial

‘Tomatoes and Cancer’ What You Need To Know

Tomatoes, often overlooked as a simple ingredient in our daily meals, have long been lauded for their rich nutritional value. However, as the world continues to grapple with the complexities of cancer, researchers have uncovered a surprising ally in the fight against this devastating disease: the humble tomato.

Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these juicy fruits have quietly made their way into the spotlight as potent cancer fighters. For years, scientists have extolled the virtues of tomatoes, highlighting their rich nutritional profile and antioxidant properties. Now, a growing body of evidence suggests that eating tomatoes may play a significant role in cancer prevention.

Lycopene: The Cancer-Battling Champion

The vibrant red hue of tomatoes is primarily attributed to lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that belongs to the family of antioxidants. Numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption to a reduced risk of various cancers, including prostate, breast, lung, colon, and stomach cancers.

How Lycopene Works

  • Antioxidant Power: Lycopene acts as a potent antioxidant, neutralising harmful free radicals that can damage cells and DNA, which are key factors in cancer development.
  • Inflammation Reduction: Chronic inflammation has been implicated in several types of cancer. Lycopene helps reduce inflammation, creating a less hospitable environment for cancer cells to thrive.
  • Cell Cycle Regulation: Lycopene may interfere with the cell cycle, preventing abnormal cell growth and division that can lead to cancer.
  • Apoptosis Induction: In some cases, lycopene can trigger apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death, eliminating damaged or cancerous cells.

Enhancing Lycopene Absorption

To maximize the benefits of lycopene, it’s essential to prepare and consume tomatoes in ways that promote absorption. Cooking tomatoes, especially with a bit of oil, can significantly increase lycopene bioavailability. Consider these methods:

  • Cooking: Saute tomatoes with olive oil or add them to stews and soups.
  • Processing: Tomato sauce, juice, and paste are excellent sources of lycopene.
  • Combination: Consuming tomatoes with foods rich in healthy fats, such as avocados or nuts, can enhance lycopene absorption.

Incorporating Tomatoes into Your Diet

Tomatoes can be easily integrated into your daily meals. Here are some creative ideas:

  • Salads: Add cherry tomatoes or diced tomatoes to your salads for a burst of flavor and nutrition.
  • Sandwiches: Top your sandwiches with tomato slices or tomato-based spreads.
  • Soups and Stews: Tomato-based soups and stews are hearty and flavorful.
  • Smoothies: Blend tomatoes with other fruits and vegetables for a refreshing smoothie.

A Note of Caution

While tomatoes offer numerous health benefits, it’s crucial to note that no single food can guarantee cancer prevention. A balanced and diverse diet, along with regular exercise, is essential for overall health and well-being. If you have concerns about cancer risk, consult with a healthcare professional for personalised guidance.

In conclusion, tomatoes, with their rich lycopene content, have emerged as a formidable weapon in the fight against cancer. By incorporating these delicious and versatile fruits into your diet, you can take a proactive step towards protecting your health and reducing your risk of cancer. So, let’s raise a glass of tomato juice or enjoy a plate of pasta with tomato sauce to celebrate the power of this humble yet mighty fruit!

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