It started like any other day, with me running an errand for a friend. The task was simple: buy a medium-sized generator—a little bigger than the popular “I better pass my neighbor” model. Having bought the exact same type just a year ago, I walked confidently into the shop, ready to seal the deal.
But what happened next left me utterly speechless.
The shopkeeper gave me the price, and my jaw dropped. The generator I bought just a year ago had its price tripled! I stood there for a moment, thinking I might have misheard him. But no, he repeated it firmly, explaining that “things have changed.” He went on about the rising cost of importation, the exchange rate, and the overall state of the economy.
I tried to process it all, but it felt unreal. How did we get to this point where the price of something as basic as a generator, an essential item in a country plagued with erratic power supply, could skyrocket beyond reason? I left the shop in shock, my mind swirling with questions about how the average Nigerian is supposed to survive.
Inflation has touched everything—food, transportation, healthcare, and now even household essentials. People’s earnings remain stagnant, yet the cost of living keeps climbing to astronomical levels. It’s becoming impossible for many to afford even the simplest things they need to get by.
As I walked home, I thought about the bigger picture. Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources. So why are we here, struggling to survive in a land of plenty? Where did we go wrong? What policies or decisions have led to this state of hardship? And most importantly, how do we fix it?
The sad reality is that many Nigerians are just hanging on, relying on grit and faith to pull through. But for how long can this continue? How will families feed their children, educate them, and keep a roof over their heads when the cost of everything keeps rising beyond their reach?
So I returned home empty-handed. I couldn’t bring myself to buy the generator at that outrageous price. It simply wasn’t worth it. And that was my shocker of the day—how a seemingly ordinary errand turned into a harsh reminder of the economic struggles we face.
How did we get here, Nigeria? Who did we offend?
That was how my day went, and I couldn’t help but reflect on the growing burden many of us carry daily. Something has to change.
Use the comment section and tell us how the inflation has affected you.Thanks for checking my blog @nsigo1