Will Things Ever Get Better Again?

Will Things Ever Get Better Again? | Ecency

Today, I picked up my phone to write and it came rushing in torrent waves - thoughts and more thoughts. Thoughts about life and how best to survive in the current condition we are in this country.

Thoughts about how inflation is constantly ravaging our economy, the ever increasing prices of commodities in the market.
PMS and cooking gas are not left out. Fuel pump price is at ₦850, cooking gas within the range of ₦1200 - ₦1300., The effect of the increase in fuel pump price are high transportation cost and increase in commodities. This is the worse of it all, you buy something at a price today and going back the next day to buy same thing, you'l be shocked to learn that the price has almost doubled.
A cup of dry pepper I bought for ₦500 last friday is ₦800 as of today.

Beans is now ₦600 a cup here, some sell even higher. If you ask how come the price increases, you'll be told it's because of fuel. Everything in this country is tied to fuel. Fuel that is supposed to be used to make the country a better place is now being used otherwise.

Few months ago, a colleague went to the building materials market to buy some bundles of corrugated iron roofing sheets to be used in some repairs. The vendor gave him at ₦33,000 per bundle, he picked two bundles which is ₦66,000. He asked if she has POS (point of sale) machine so he can make payment but she said that it wasn't powered, moreover that she wants cash not transfer. He didn't have the complete amount in cash so he gave her ₦50,000 and went to withdraw the balance which is ₦16,000, at the shop opposite hers. On coming back after few minutes, he got the shock of his life, the woman told him that the price of the zinc has increased from ₦33,000 to ₦50,000. Ha!, how come he asked? She replied that it was from the company and that he has to buy it at that new price since he's yet to complete the money. So instead of ₦66,000 which they have agreed on, he is to pay ₦100,000, imagine the increase. My colleague told her that it shouldn't be so since he had made advance payment of over 70% but she refused to heed him. Long story cut short, he took his money back and went elsewhere to buy it for a better price. Would you blame her for the increase when she, just like the company is out to make profit and also have enough money to be able to pay for the next supply. This is the sad reality we are facing today.

What about the hunger ravaging the populace. You go out in the street and you'll see able bodied men and women begging for at least money to eat. Before now, it was mostly the physically challenged and maybe mentally retarded individuals that you'll see begging, but no longer so now.
Not quite long, I had gone to the market to buy stuffs. As I was navigating through the ever busy market, this well dressed young man called my attention and I stopped. With a very calm voice, he apologized for stopping me and pleaded that I should help him by buying a cup of rice or two. I had wanted to get angry that he stopped me in the first place but seeing the way he approached and addressed me, I just had to mellow down. Luckily I had some cash left and I bought more cups for him. Whether he was a corporate beggar or genuinely needed the help, I wouldn't know. I just did it because my mind told me to.

People are hungry and would do anything just to get food to eat. Just few months ago, some students were trampled to death in a stamped where they went went to carry bags of rice that were meant to be distributed as a form of palliative to the students in one of the institutions in my country. Who then should we blame for the deaths? Is it the state government who was trying to help alleviate the suffering of the students or the students themselves, who out of greed and impatience, couldn't wait for the flag off of the distribution and had to break into the store to cart away the rice. Hmmm, it is really sad.

Would I even talk about the increasing crime, fraud and all forms of nefarious activities amongst our young ones. A boy of twelve years now is already a guru in internet fraud, not minding the consequences of the act if caught. He just wants to cash out and live big thereby destroying his bright future. Some parents too aren't helping matters, they keep on encouraging these young ones to indulge in crimes because they see it as the easiest way out of their poverty.

Just last week, a POS operator staying very close to my office building was robbed in broad daylight around past 8 in the morning. The robbers, three of them armed with gun came with a Keke tricycle. Posing as if they were making withdrawal, collected all the money on her, about ₦200,000 including her phone and hand bag. When the people at the shop close to her saw what was happening, they locked up for fear of being robbed too. This made it the second time she has been robbed in this year.

It doesn't end in crime and robbery alone. Everyday records of kidnapped and missing persons keep increasing. One is now afraid of moving around or boarding some public vehicle because you do not know what lies in wait for you on the way.

All these are happening because we lack a working government, they have failed us. Their only interest is how to amass wealth for themselves, even for their generations yet unborn without a care about the welfare of the average citizens. They make policies that will suit them alone at the detriment of the common citizens whom should be their first priority.

The country is now moving on a fast lane, but sadly with no one knows where it's headed. I doubt if the government knows. How would they even know since they are chasing rats while the house is on fire.