From Ebohon Joan
Every morning, I wake up with one question: Will today be any different? Not because I lack the willingness to work, but because Nigeria’s economic reality has turned hard work into a daily struggle for survival. My business is slowing down, my mental health is suffering, and poverty feels closer than ever before.
The economy is not just “bad” on paper; it is something I live with every single day. Prices keep rising, but my income doesn’t. Everything costs more than it did a few months ago, yet business has slowed to the point where some days I wonder if it’s even worth opening for the day. Customers want to buy, but many simply can’t afford to. Those of us trying to earn an honest living are caught in the middle.owing debts here and there!
The hardest part is the uncertainty. I no longer plan with confidence because I don’t know what tomorrow’s prices will be. Every increase in transportation, food, electricity, or fuel chips away at the little hope I have left. Running a business has become a constant battle against rising costs and declining patronage.
What many people don’t see is what this does to a person’s mental health. Financial stress doesn’t disappear when you go to bed. It follows you everywhere. It steals your peace, your motivation, and sometimes even your confidence. There are days when I feel mentally exhausted, not because I’m lazy or unwilling to work, but because it feels like no matter how hard I try, I’m moving backwards instead of forward.
Poverty is no longer something I hear about in the news. It has become a reality that stares me in the face. There are moments when I question myself, wondering if I’m not doing enough, only to realise that countless hardworking Nigerians are facing the same struggle. This isn’t simply about working harder; it’s about surviving in an economy that has made survival increasingly difficult.
It is frustrating to watch dreams, goals, and business plans stall because of circumstances beyond my control. The passion I once had for growing my business is now competing with anxiety over paying bills and meeting basic needs. It’s heartbreaking when you have the willingness to succeed but the economic environment keeps pushing you back.There’s a lot to BE,A lot to Do!but where does one even start from in this country?let’s not even get started and how one meal a day costs an arm and a leg!
Still, I refuse to lose hope completely. I believe Nigeria can do better. I believe hardworking people deserve an economy that rewards effort rather than punishes it. We deserve stable policies, more opportunities, and a future where running a business is not a daily struggle for survival.
Until that day comes, many of us will continue to fight silent battles. Behind every smile is someone worrying about rent, food, school fees, or whether their business will survive another month. I am one of those people. I am frustrated. I am tired. But like millions of Nigerians, I continue to hold on, hoping that one day,Nigeria and it’s habitants will be sane again.
