Nigerians’ ‘Christmas joy’ ruined by failed promises
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerians are contending with a joyless Christmas this year as purchasing power is further eroded by naira scarcity coupled with high inflation, despite President Bola Tinubu’s gimmick of taking money from the treasury and donating it to the poor through his wife and others for personal aggrandisement via media optics.
Remi Tinubu donated N500 million to displaced families in Plateau in September, and last week donated N950 million to military retirees and senior citizens, a total of at least N1.45 billion in three months. Where does she get the money from?
A pro-Tinubu group called ‘Asiwaju For All’ at the weekend began distribution of 22,200 bags of 50kg rice worth millions of naira in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and other Northern states “to support the less privileged in celebrating” Christmas.
In plain language, Tinubu – who has never disclosed the source or value of his fabled wealth – is literally diverting public funds by several means to “donate” to Nigerians to make it look like he is supporting them from his private pocket, in order to get personal praise. Another forgery.
And this is part of the tricks of Governors and other politicians: Steal trillions from the public treasury (money that should have been officially used to provide infrastructure to improve living standards) then donate a few millions from the loot to some good causes to garner public goodwill, praise, and support for personal self.
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Many can’t afford to travel
However, even Tinubu’s 50 per cent cut in transportation cost on selected routes does not go far enough as many families say they still cannot afford the balance 50 per cent to travel.
“You can fake news but you can’t fake prosperity,” economist Bismarck Rewane recently reminded Tinubu.
Besides the price of essential commodities which have skyrocketed since fuel subsidy was removed on May 29, many people are unable to travel to their home towns to celebrate the yuletide with their loved ones because of prohibitive hikes in transportation costs on all routes, North and South.
The price of food stuff, including rice, chicken, goat, and other items have tripled in the market, according to a survey Daily Post.
A bag of local rice that was sold at N44,000 now sells for N61,000 and more in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja depending on the brand.
A jerry can of 25 litres of vegetable oil goes for N45,000 against the previous price of N30,000.
Prior to the current economic situation, households, particularly Christians, usually bought chicken and goats to spice up the celebration. Only a few could afford cows.
Nearly all of that vanished in the 2023 Christmas season.
Danjuma Danladi, a goat seller in Abuja, confirmed a goat costs about N70,000 and above depending on the size, citing the cost of transportation contributing to the high price.
“Last year, we sold goats for as low as N25,000 but you cannot see that anywhere again,” he said.
“Goats are very expensive in the market. By the time you buy them a little cheaper from the villages in the neighbouring states and you transport them to Abuja, the price automatically goes up. And of course, every trader wants to have some gains.
“Sometimes the amount we spend in bringing these goats to Abuja is higher than the price we bought them. It’s all because of the fuel issue.
“Since I started this business in 2015, this is the worst year for me. People are not buying, when they come and you tell them the price, many of them turn back and opt for chicken.”
Tinubu approved 50 per cent discount for inter-state road travel, between December 21 and January 4, yet several travellers are stranded in many parks because of exorbitant charges by transport companies.
Abuja said it struck a deal with at least five transport companies, including GIG (God is Good), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor for the price cut.
But many motorists who stormed the GIG and Young Shall Grow motors in Abuja were stranded as there were no enough buses to convey them to their destinations.
An employee of GIG in Utako, Abuja who did not want to state his name confirmed a trip of N50,000 has been slashed to N25,000 but passengers are asked to pay the full fare and expect their 50 per cent refund later.
“What we do is that when a passenger pays, we ask them to drop their account number, we will refund the 50 per cent of the amount paid after 24 hours,” he said.
A traveler who identified herself simply as Chiamaka, and who was stranded at the GIG park, lamented she was unable to secure a ticket for her trip.
“I don’t know how they are doing this thing. Even before we came here, many of us tried booking but it was not working. Coming here again they are saying they no longer have tickets for us going to Imo,” she said.
“I have decided to just send the goods to my people. Only the bag of rice and the oil, they are charging me N7,000. I don’t have a choice than to pay.”
Arbitrary price hikes
Transport companies operating from Abuja to the South East charge N25,000 and above for a seat, depending on the company and on whether the vehicle is air conditioned or not.
Adole Mathias, who was travelling from Abuja to Benue, said the transport companies charge exorbitant fares without reason.
“Before now, we used to have fuel scarcity in every Christmas season which was the reason for the hike in transportation fare but now the price of fuel has been stable. So why am I paying double of what I paid to go to Benue just last month?” he wondered.
“Most times, the government is not our problem. We are the problem of ourselves. There is no justification for this hike. They just want to suck everything out of our pockets.
“Benue is not far from Abuja but as it is now, N20,000 may not take me to my village.”
Flight tickets are even way out of the reach of most travellers.
A one-way flight from either Abuja or Lagos to any part of the South East costs far above N200,000.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Executive Vice Chairman Babatunde Irukera disclosed the agency is monitoring the transport companies over excessive price hikes.
Said he: “We have seen this for so many years when prices of transportation go up.
“What we do is to monitor it as much as we can. Nigeria does not have price control. It happened only during the military regime.
“The country switched to democracy and adopted a free market, so the government doesn’t impose prices.”