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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The people of Taraba State, like most other Nigerians, are plagued by untold hardship as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy that gave rise to an outrageous spike in the prices of food stuff and nearly every other item.
The situation is further complicated in the state by the prolonged power outage in the state which multiplied the severity of the hardships across the state.
From the ladies, who today favor “all back” hairstyle over synthetic hair and wigs, to men who prefer local Burukutu and small gins over lager beer and wine, the residents of Taraba State have developed various strategies to cope with the extreme hardship in the land.
A survey by Daily Sun shows that majority of ladies now simply weave their hair in the popular “all back hair style” due largely to the high cost of the synthetic hair.
Esther Sansani, a student of Taraba State University, Jalingo told Daily Sun that she has more priorities to attend to and can no longer afford any expensive hairstyle.
“The least you can get one attachment now is 6,000 Naira and I usually use at least Two to make my hair. That is N12,000 already. I am not talking about cost of washing the hair and plaiting. So at the end of the day, you may end up spending as much as N20,000 just to make your hair that will not last up to a month. It is simply not sustainable”.
“For me, I have resolved to be doing all back which costs me not more than N1000 and is very easy to manage. Another alternative is to make “Dada” but I don’t like it so I don’t even contemplate it”.
Hassan Umar said she only realized recently that “all back hairstyle” is the best hairstyle for her.
“I use to spend a lot of money on my hair sometimes making hair twice a month. Recently, the cost of attachment is so high that even local ones cost upwards of N6000. Some good attachment costs as much as N15,000.
“So when I was complaining, my friend suggested that I should try “all back” and it is giving me so much joy. I spend much less, my fiancée is so happy with it, because he was already complaining about the cost of hair and beside, he said he loves the feel of my natural hair”.
For Nanissi Yakubu, it was the heat that made her try “All back hairstyle” when she could no longer bear carrying hair made with synthetic hair. “The heat this year is something else. Before, we all believe that all back is for village and poor girls but this year has thought us to think differently. In fact, this is our favorite hairstyle. It allows you free air and I just realize that most men love it. So it’s now all back all the way”.
In most places around the metropolis, one noticeable feature is the springing up of kiosks where dry gin and other locally brewed alcoholic drinks are sold. And they drinks come in all shapes, sizes and names.
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Most people now find lager beer too expensive as it now sells for as N700 per bottle on average while most of the other drinks sell for 300 Naira on average and have more effect than the beer.
For Vincent Ikyakwayaan, drinking beer is a huge waste of money. “I go out quite often with friends and I like relaxing over a few bottles of beer. Most times, people tend to be more outspoken when they are a bit tipsy and you get to learn a lot from them.
“However, I just discovered that with the prices of beer right now, it is very unhealthy to continue with the habit. What we now do is to buy small gin, like Castella or Alogeen, or any of the bitters. They are far less expensive, gives you a better result and controls unnecessary accumulation of stomach fats. Honestly, the hardship has thought us a good trick”.
But even more difficult is how most families are managing to cope with skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs. From cutting down on the quantity of food prepared to reducing the number of meals and introducing less expensive options, most families are ingeniously adapting to the new realities of the times.
Ben Nator, a father of five, has a total of nine mouths to feed daily. As a farmer, this had been a child’s play for him as he mostly eats from his harvest. However, the story is no longer the same.
“I am into farming, at least subsistence farming, so my family is used to feeding very well all year round. Usually, I only have to buy rice, noddles, beverages, meat and fish which were fairly affordable. Now that everything has become a problem, at least I still have maize from my farm that will last us to new harvest. We also have corn.
“So in the place of rice and beans or noddles or tea and bread for breakfast, my wife now makes local pap from millet with akara. At first, it was difficult for the children but they have all adjusted. Even my last born who is just three years old takes it very well. Usually, they will eat their food in school but we now make them to eat at home so that other children will not go and laugh at them in school.
“And then, just so that they don’t go to school empty handed, we a sachet of biscuits for each of them and either zobo or Kunu that my wife prepares in the place of minerals or juice that they are use to”.
A teacher at one of the private schools in the state capital who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence said that there is a noticeable change in the kinds of foods children now bring to school since the last term but especially this new term.
“Usually, most children come with noodles or rice and some fried yam with egg sauce. That has changed. You see children coming to school with Kunu, mango, or other local dishes that one would not expect to see. It is clear that things are not easy and most families are barely getting by” she said.
Most car owners have also become taxi men, ferring people especially ladies from one club to the other to raise money for fuel and car maintenance.
“Man must survive ooo. Once I close from work, I go home and freshen up and go out. I have dropped my contact at all the clubs and major joints in town. Usually, I will go out and run a few rounds before the calls start coming and these girls pay well. You just have to come down to their level and tolerate their indulgences. For more than two months now, I have not used a penny from my salary to buy fuel for my car or my wife’s car. Maintenance of the cars is also from my night work. In fact, I earn more than my salary at the end of the month, although it is very risky and disrespectful as they order you around and some are working with bad boys and can set you up”.
