Nigeria is bleeding, and her children are crying. Not the cries of infants seeking attention but the wails of an entire generation crushed under the weight of a failing system. A recent video of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member calling out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, branding him as "terrible" due to the country's economic downturn, has sparked widespread reactions. Some condemned her, while many others resonated deeply with her words. But beyond the trending video, the anger, and the mixed reactions, lies a hard truth: life in Nigeria today is not just difficult, it is nearly unbearable. NO BE LIFE WE DEY LIVE SHA!!!
If you are in your 20s in Nigeria, you are caught in the middle of the worst economic storm the country has seen in decades. The promise of education as a ladder to success is fast becoming a myth. You graduate, filled with optimism, only to be thrown into a system where jobs are scarce, salaries are abysmal, and survival demands extreme levels of hustle.
The NYSC stipend of ₦33,000, which barely covered basic needs before, now holds almost no value in today’s economy. Inflation has eroded whatever purchasing power young graduates had. A bag of rice that once sold for ₦8,000 now costs over ₦70,000. A loaf of bread that was ₦250 now costs over ₦1,000. Transportation fares have tripled, electricity tariffs have skyrocketed, and rent is out of reach for many. So, what does a fresh graduate earning ₦33,000 do in a country where even food is becoming a luxury?
Inflation is not just a statistic; it is a monster eating away at the lives of ordinary Nigerians. It means waking up every day and realizing that the money you had yesterday can no longer afford you the same thing today. It means young people working multiple jobs, engaging in side hustles, and still barely making ends meet.
Take the case of a young Nigerian who secures a job that pays ₦100,000 a month. Sounds good, right? Wrong. After removing transport costs (which could be ₦30,000 if they live in Lagos or Abuja), feeding (at least ₦40,000 a month for basic meals), and rent (where even a single room could go for ₦200,000 per year, meaning ₦16,000 per month), what’s left? Practically nothing. Forget savings, forget investments, forget any dream of a better future.
The situation is even worse for small business owners. The cost of running a business has doubled, thanks to erratic electricity, fuel price hikes, and an unstable currency. Many entrepreneurs have shut down, while others struggle daily just to keep their doors open.
The frustration we see today is a reflection of years of economic mismanagement, lack of opportunities, and a government that seems disconnected from the plight of its people. The NYSC member who spoke out is not alone in her pain; she is simply voicing what millions of Nigerians feel daily.
University students are unable to concentrate on their studies because they are already thinking about how they will fend for themselves after graduation. Young professionals are migrating in droves, seeking greener pastures in Canada, the UK, and the United States because their homeland offers nothing but hardship. Those who remain are constantly living on the edge, with no security, no assurance of stable jobs, and no hope of a better tomorrow.
President Tinubu and his administration must realize that young Nigerians are not lazy. They are not entitled. They are simply tired. Tired of a system that keeps them struggling from dawn to dusk without a fair chance at a decent life. Policies must be implemented to address inflation, create jobs, and provide support for young people trying to make a living.
It is not enough to tell people to endure and be patient. We need solutions, concrete, visible, and actionable solutions. The minimum wage must be adjusted to reflect current realities. The cost of food and transportation must be regulated, and small businesses must be supported to prevent total economic collapse.
To the young NYSC corps member who spoke out, your voice matters. You spoke the truth that many are afraid to say out loud. This is not about political affiliations; it is about survival.
To those in power, know this: a hungry, frustrated, and desperate generation is a dangerous one. If young Nigerians lose faith in their country, the consequences will be dire. The government must wake up before it is too late.
And to every young Nigerian out there struggling to survive, you are not alone. Your pain is real, your struggle is valid, and your voice matters. If no one else will fight for us, then we must fight for ourselves because NO BE LIFE WE DEY LIVE SHA!!!