•High inflation rates throw Abuja residents off balance
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
With Christmas just a week away, it may not be be a merry day for many families in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This is because residents of the FTC are not immune to the challenging economic situation in the country.
Yuletide always creates convivial atmosphere but this year’s Christmas seems to have come with mixed feelings. Most residents of the FCT, who spoke with Daily Sun confessed Christmas is no longer merriment.
Tochukwu Ike said: “The economic situation in the country is so hard that feeding now is even a problem. It is already Christmas and I have not done any preparation because there is no money. Everything in the market is very expensive, just a bag of rice is over N100,000.
“I have not talked about other food items. Travelling is a no no for my family. The last time I went to check transportation fare at the IMO transport company, it was said N40,000 from Abuja to Owerri. Where will I get such amount for a family of six?
“Nigeria has turned into something else. Most Nigerians cannot comfortably travel to their villages during festive seasons. They now prefer sending money to their loved ones following high transportation.”
A mother of three and resident of Kuje, Lilian Otobo said: “This year’s Christmas is not going to be large like it used to be because of the situation of things in the country. In the past, by this time I have concluded my shopping and arrangements for the family but this year I have not done anything.
“As for traveling out of Abuja for the festival, not in my plan, we are not traveling home this year. Though we haven’t travelled since 2020. What I do now is video calls to relate with my family to reduce the pressure of we haven’t seen you and children . My major problem now is not even the celebration, it is how to make sure the kids return to school in January comfortably.
“We have really learnt our lessons these past years. The little things that we can afford we will send to our parents at home while we celebrate the holidays here in Abuja to avoid, please help me.”
Mrs chidinma Uka a mother of five resides in Mpape said: “I am confused on how to go about this celebration because the hope of my family has been shattered by some bad eggs in the country. The woman I used to save money with and by the end of the year, she will give bag of rice, oil, tin tomatoes and others was robbed.
“The most painful aspect was that she bought all the stuff and told us that the distribution date will be on December 14. Few days to the deal date, some criminals broke into the store and made away with all the goods. The confusing part was the neighbours said they didn’t hear any noise or sign of such.
“My husband warned me against it oh. But I told him that I trusted the woman and this is not my first time. So the pain is not only the loss but also the quarrel from my husband. He vowed not to provide anything thing for the celebration because I am too stubborn, according to him.”
A resident of Wuse, Emmanuel ugwu: “Since I started living in Abuja, I have never experienced a year like this. Things are very difficult , prices increasing daily. The worst aspect is that we have now gone back to the era of buying our own money.
“I used to share things with less privileged but this year I have not been able to settle my immediate family, let alone sending to others. I feel very sad because it is one of the things I have pledged to be doing to contribute to the welfare of the less privileged.”
A dealer in onions at Wuse Market, Mohammed Usman, said: “Previously, by this time, we made large sales. But this year nothing is really happening.”
Another trader, dealing on rice, Ebere Uche: “This is normally our season because people come to buy rice in bags to distribute to families and well-wishers. But with the price of rice today, everywhere is like no Christmas is coming up soon.”
Tailors also lamented low patronage. Maria Uji is one of them: “This year is different from the other years, the hardship in the country is being felt all round. It is very few customers that are bringing clothes for sewing. It is so bad that even paying deposit for work has become a problem.”
Another tailor in Kubwa, Oluchi Martha, said: “I normally stopped receiving materials from customers by the end of November in previous years. But this year, I am still collecting yet I have not collected any reasonable number of clothes.
“The greatest nightmare is that most of the customers have not deposited anything. They just dropped their clothes and I won’t make it with my money because some of them may never come back for collection.”
However, even in the midst of the heat, some FCT residents admitted that this is their best year. Oscar Abraham from Dutse: “This Christmas is to be one of best because I have done all the necessary preparation and just waiting to travel home to join my people for the festival.
“As a family man with five kids, I started my arrangements from January. As prices of some food stuffs went rapidly high, I am not affected because I planned and saved ahead of time. I have gotten everything I needed for the festival and even paid my children’s fees for the next term. When you plan ahead, you will always be at the safer side.”
A businessman in Maitama, Palmer Julius: “This is going to be one of my best Christmas. I have gotten everything set and ready to travel home with my family for the holidays. Yes most people are crying for the high cost of foodstuffs in the market, especially rice. I don’t have issues with that because I planned ahead of time.
“Good enough that my family members are already used to Nigerian rice even before border closure.”