As inflation continues to bite harder, residents of Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria are groaning under severe economic hardship, blaming recent monetary policies by the Federal Government for the skyrocketing cost of living.
The removal of fuel subsidy, along with the increase in electricity tariffs, has triggered a ripple effect across the economy, affecting transportation, business operations, and general economic activities. Citizens say the policy was implemented without adequate cushioning measures for the masses.
At the popular Big Tree Market along Iwofe Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Owunda expressed deep concern over the worsening situation.
“It is disheartening. People can no longer afford to feed their families. Parents are helpless, watching their children suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The middle class has disappeared. All we have now are the rich and the extremely poor,” Owunda lamented.
He blamed the soaring prices of foodstuffs—especially fresh produce like tomatoes and peppers—on insecurity in the northern part of the country, where most agricultural products are sourced. According to him, attacks by Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents have kept farmers away from their lands, significantly affecting food production and supply.
At Mile One Market in Port Harcourt, Mr. Onyedi Obi, a foodstuff trader, echoed similar frustrations, noting that the number of poor Nigerians is “more than the sand of the soil.”
“Things are worse than ever. Salaries can no longer sustain families for even a week. The cost of food rises daily. Many people are falling into depression, suffering from high blood pressure and stress-related illnesses due to financial burdens. Landlords keep increasing rent indiscriminately. Transportation, school fees, electricity bills—everything is a struggle,” Obi said.
He further decried the security situation in parts of Port Harcourt, especially in Diobu, where cult-related violence, kidnappings, and robberies are now rampant. He warned that the insecurity is crippling local businesses and driving residents away.
Obi called on the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (Rtd), to take swift action to restore order and provide economic relief to suffering citizens.
As inflation worsens, many Nigerians are urging the government to revisit its economic policies and prioritize the welfare of the people to avert further crisis.
