If you’ve been feeling like things are getting harder in Nigeria, you’re not imagining it. A former insider in President Bola Tinubu’s government has now confirmed what many Nigerians have been saying quietly (and sometimes loudly) for months: the country is in a worse state today than it was when this administration took power in May 2023.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who served as Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Political Matters, didn’t mince words when speaking about the current state of the nation. His candid assessment has sparked conversations across the country about the direction we’re heading as a people.
When Your Own Person Talks True
You know the situation is serious when someone who was literally in the room where decisions are made comes out to say, “E no dey work.” Baba-Ahmed’s comments carry extra weight precisely because he’s not an opposition politician throwing stones from the outside. This is someone who had access to the inner workings of the presidency, who understands the complexities of governance, and who still feels compelled to speak up.
For the average Nigerian—the Lagos hustler waking up at 4 AM to beat traffic, the Kano trader watching prices climb daily, the Port Harcourt mother trying to feed her children with money that buys less every week—this confirmation from a former government insider validates what they’ve been experiencing firsthand.
The Reality on Our Streets
Since May 29, 2023, Nigerians have weathered storm after storm:
The Fuel Subsidy Removal: Remember when President Tinubu declared “subsidy is gone” on his first day? That single announcement sent petrol prices from around ₦195 per litre to over ₦600, and in some places, beyond ₦700. Transport fares doubled, then tripled. The ripple effects touched everything—from the price of pure water to the cost of getting a haircut.
The Naira’s Free Fall: Our currency has been on a downward spiral that would make a rollercoaster look gentle. The exchange rate has moved from around ₦460 to over ₦1,500 to the dollar at various points. For a country that imports almost everything—from rice to toothpicks—this has been catastrophic for ordinary people’s purchasing power.
Inflation Wahala: Food prices have entered territory that makes even well-to-do families think twice. A bag of rice that cost ₦30,000 is now pushing ₦80,000 or more. Tomatoes, onions, pepper—the holy trinity of Nigerian cooking—have become luxury items in many households.
When Policies Meet People
The distance between policy announcements in Aso Rock and their impact on Adeola Street in Surulere or Ahmadu Bello Way in Kaduna is where the real story unfolds.
Many economic experts and even some government supporters argue that these reforms—painful as they are—are necessary for long-term stability. They point to subsidy payments that were bleeding the treasury dry, an exchange rate that was artificially maintained, and decades of economic mismanagement that created structural problems.
But here’s the thing: when you’re explaining to your children why there’s no meat in the stew tonight, or why they can’t go on that school excursion, “long-term stability” sounds like a promise for someone else’s future, not yours.
The Palliative Puzzle
The government has announced various palliative measures—rice distributions, cash transfers, wage awards for civil servants. But like water poured on desert sand, these interventions seem to disappear before reaching the depths where they’re most needed.
Distribution has been patchy at best, with stories of political manipulation, favoritism, and outright diversion making rounds. The amounts involved, even when they reach beneficiaries, barely scratch the surface of the economic pressures families face.
Security Concerns Still Dey Ground
Beyond the economy, security challenges continue to plague different parts of the country. From banditry in the Northwest to insurgency in the Northeast, from kidnappings along major highways to communal conflicts in the Middle Belt, Nigerians are still not assured of the basic government responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Baba-Ahmed’s statement is significant not just for what it reveals about the present, but for what it demands for the future. When those who were part of the system begin to speak up about its failures, it creates space for honest conversation about course correction.
The question Nigerians are asking isn’t whether reforms are necessary—most understand that decades of mismanagement require serious interventions. The question is: Can these reforms be implemented in ways that don’t crush the very people they’re meant to eventually benefit?
The People’s Resilience
Despite everything, Nigerians continue to show the remarkable resilience we’re known for worldwide. Businesses adapt, families adjust, communities support each other. From the okada rider who now factors fuel costs into every calculation to the market woman who has become an expert in supply chain management, Nigerians are surviving.
But survival shouldn’t be the standard for a nation with our resources, our talent, and our potential.
A Call for Real Change
Baba-Ahmed’s assessment should serve as a wake-up call—not for despair, but for urgent action. It’s a reminder that political will, when divorced from the reality of people’s daily struggles, produces policies that look good on paper but fail in practice.
The administration still has time to listen, to adjust, and to prioritize policies that address immediate suffering while building for the future. But that window won’t stay open forever.
For now, Nigerians watch, wait, and—as we always do—pray for better days. Because if there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s hope against hope, even when the evidence suggests we should do otherwise.
What do you think? Has Nigeria truly gotten worse under this administration, or are we experiencing necessary pain for future gain? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
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