By: Fumilayo Thomas, Miracle Ajisafe & Esther Opakunle
For many Nigerians, celebrating Christmas in 2024 is less about joy and more about survival. Like the previous years, Victor Temi, a teacher and father of two, had looked forward to celebrating Christmas with his family, a time to share joyful moments over delicious meals and thoughtful gifts.
Victor, like many Nigerians, faces the harsh realities of rising inflation, while he hustles daily to meet the basic family needs, juggling multiple jobs to pay for essentials like food, shelter, and electricity. The soaring cost of living has cast a shadow over his festive plans.
"Everything is so expensive now," he lamented. "Even the staples I could afford last year have become luxury items. Instead of the usual excitement of shopping for Christmas, I find myself calculating every money I earn, wondering how I could meet my family's needs with the ever-rising inflation.
"I’ve picked up extra teaching jobs and started trading on weekends, but it’s still not enough," Victor explained. "I just want my family to have a decent Christmas meal, but even that seems like a dream now."
Victor’s story reflects the broader struggles of millions of Nigerians grappling with the economic impact of inflation, making this Christmas season less of a celebration and more about survival.
A recent market survey shows that prices of essential goods and household items remain stubbornly high, with food staples like rice, beans, vegetable oil, and tomatoes increasing weekly.
Cooking gas now costs as much as ₦1,500 per kilogram in some areas, while soaring petrol prices and expensive transportation further strain household budgets.
As prices of goods and services continue to climb, many families are forced to cut back on festive preparations or abandon them altogether.
A report by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on April 17 2024, revealed the steps taken to address the issue regarding the continued rises in prices of goods and services.
FCCPC stated that it understands the significant financial strain these rising prices are placing on Nigerian households, stressing that the commission is utilising its existing legal framework to enforce fair competition and consumer protection provisions.
According to the commission, this includes monitoring and investigating unusual price hikes, addressing complaints filed by consumers, and taking action against businesses found to be engaging in anti-competitive practices such as price fixing, price gouging, or cartel formation.
Despite interventions by regulatory agencies, the naira’s value remains unstable, exacerbating the economic challenges. Both salary earners and self-employed individuals lament that their income can barely cover basic needs, including feeding, education, shelter, and transportation.
Bleak Christmas
In several interviews with many Nigerians, they shared their frustrations about how the rising cost of living has dampened the festive spirit, especially when it comes to celebrating Christmas, New Year, birthdays, weddings, and other anniversaries.
For many, the festive period has always been a time for families to share love and joy, a time to gather with loved ones and exchange gifts and meals to celebrate the season. However, the economic pressures have not only affected their celebrations but also limited their ability to express their generosity to others.
A civil servant, Mrs Olowosoyo reflected on the stark contrast to previous years. “We can’t do much this year because of the high cost of living,” she said. “Even the simple act of sharing food and clothes with the needy is no longer possible.”
She noted that the once vibrant and communal atmosphere that defined Christmas and New Year seems distant, replaced by financial stress that many families are struggling to manage.
Another salary earner, Olowosoyo Moyin echoed similar sentiments. She explained how her monthly income has gradually become inadequate for her family’s needs. “The increase in prices is very obvious. Before, ₦20,000 could cook meals for a week during the festive season, but now, that amount can't even prepare a pot of soup for two days.
“A monthly salary of ₦50,000 used to be enough to cover the essentials, but now, with the cost of everything skyrocketing, we are looking at ₦150,000 a month, which is dramatic for someone earning a salary,” Olowosoyo lamented.
Chukwuma Obi, a father of four at Oyingbo market in Lagos who has consistently cancelled travel plans to his hometown in Owerri, Imo for this festive period, expressed his experiences and challenges faced during this festive period.
“Last year I couldn't afford to buy a bag of Rice and live chicken for my family, but now I can barely afford half of what I used to buy,” Chukwuma bemoaned.
Students Not Left Out
A student at Lagos State University, Segun-Odidi Yoyinsola shared her concerns about the economic situation during this festive period, calling it a different experience.
“Every Christmas, my mum always makes sure she cooks a lot of food, bakes snacks, buys new clothes for my family, and visits our extended family. But the 2024 Christmas is totally different,” she said.
Yoyinsola further recounted how her mother complained about the skyrocketing prices, expressing frustration over the relentless price hikes.
“Different day, different lamentation,” her voice tinged with annoyance. “Well, I feel extreme annoyance because why do the prices of things keep getting higher?”
Similarly, Ojo Emmanuel Oluwadarasimi, a 100-level student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), lamented the tough situation his family faces this festive season.
“Things are really tough right now, they’re so costly and keep increasing every single day. There is no money in circulation to buy anything.
“My spending habits haven’t been normal since the beginning of the month. The usual me spends ₦2,000 a day, but now it’s ₦200 per day,” he shared.
Ojo emphasized how many families depend on his parents as the primary source of income, highlighting the struggles faced when that income is insufficient to cover even basic needs.
