The Christmas season is meant to be a time of joy and celebration, but for many Nigerians, it has become a reminder of the harsh realities that they face daily. As the country grapples with economic challenges, the holiday that should bring comfort has instead brought frustration and sorrow.
In recent years, the cost of traveling across Nigeria has soared to astronomical heights. A bus ticket from Lagos to Owerri, once a manageable expense, now costs N60,000. This used to be the cost of airfare, a time when the economy was struggling but still within reach for many. But now, for some, the only option is to pay up to N300,000 for a 45-minute flight from Lagos to Owerri. For a medical doctor, earning N500,000 per month at a prestigious hospital, this would mean spending six months’ salary just to afford a simple round-trip flight for his family. The dream of a family vacation is slipping further out of reach for those already stretched thin by the high cost of living.
The roads themselves offer little respite. While the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is in decent condition, the rest of the country’s road network is a different story. The chaos on the highways is compounded by the overwhelming presence of police and customs checkpoints. These checkpoints, which seem to multiply by the day, create bottlenecks and frustration for travelers. Rather than serving their purpose of safety, they often become avenues for extortion, where weary holidaymakers are forced to deal with rude officers in the sweltering heat.
The state of the roads and the constant stops aren’t the only dangers facing those trying to reach their destinations. With kidnappers now a common presence on Nigerian highways, traveling by road has become a gamble with safety. In a chilling Christmas Day incident, travelers in Enugu State were abducted at gunpoint, their vehicles abandoned with doors wide open on the side of the road. The police, it seems, are often helpless in the face of this escalating threat, offering little more than advice on ransom negotiations after the fact.
But even if travelers manage to reach their destinations, their troubles don’t end there. Nigeria’s airline industry, once a reliable means of transportation during the holiday season, is now struggling with its own set of problems. Flight delays, lost luggage, and poor customer service are just some of the frustrations that passengers face. At Port Harcourt International Airport, for example, travelers waited over an hour for their bags to appear on the carousel. In Lagos, things are no better, as luggage handling seems to be a slow, disorganized affair.
The impact of these travel woes extends beyond the roads and airports to the very heart of the holiday experience. The cost of living, particularly food prices, has risen sharply. The price of a healthy goat, once an affordable luxury for many families, has skyrocketed from N30,000 to N120,000. A cow, which used to cost about N600,000, now goes for over N1.5 million. Basic foodstuffs, such as rice, have become so expensive that they are out of reach for most households. For many, the simple joys of a Christmas feast or a new outfit are no longer attainable.
The economic struggles have also led to the rise of dubious role models, with individuals engaged in illegal activities like internet fraud and drug dealing gaining popularity through their ostentatious holiday displays of philanthropy. These figures, whose wealth is built on the suffering of others, are becoming the new symbols of success in a society where the middle class is shrinking and desperation is rising.
In villages and rural areas, the situation is even worse. Many people are now living in abject poverty, struggling to feed their families. The return of malnutrition is a very real threat, with basic sources of protein like fish and meat becoming luxuries. Christmas, which used to be a time for sharing and celebration in the village, has lost its meaning. Instead, it has become a reminder of the vast inequality that divides the country.
Across Nigeria, the festive season is marked not by joy and merriment, but by a deep sense of unease and sorrow. The daily struggle to survive has left many people unable to appreciate the simple pleasures of life. Christmas carols are quieter this year, and the season feels less like a time of giving and more like a harsh reminder of how much has been lost.
As Nigerians reflect on their circumstances, many are left wondering: How much longer can this situation continue? The cost of living, the lack of basic services, and the growing insecurity make it hard to see a way out. For those already struggling, this Christmas has not been a season of peace, but one of profound hardship and misfortune.
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