By Femi Oyelola
In barely 48 hours, Nigerian Christians and their well-wishers will join the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas, a day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is usually marked with fanfare. For the Christians, there is no other festival that ranks above Chriatmas, especially as it ushers in the New Year. Also in this period, many Nigerians travel to spend time with their loved ones both within and outside the country.
Christmas celebration in Nigeria is usually colorful and full of activities as it also dovetails into the end od years celebrations. It is characterized by the aroma of the varieties of dishes coupled with the scent of seasoned protein
The 2023 celebration will be the most attendant celebration since the return to democracy in 1999.
The General Elections were conducted and ushered in new leaders in the country who are expected to bring into fold activities and programs that will impact the lives of the Citizens.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged president from the general elections, while some states have new governors and others retained their seats for a second term. The 10 National Assembly was also inaugurated with over 469 members across its two chambers.
President Tinubu in his inaugural speech announced some reforms key among which is the subsidy removal, But despite the cheering news that welcomes some of the policies, there is no gainsaying that the economic power of most Nigerians still remains low.
As such, politicians, civil servants, and private sector workers have been faced with low purchasing power. And this economic state of affairs is expected to impact negatively on the Christmas and end of years celebrations across the country.
A Kaduna-based Journalist, Alhaji Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, premised that the 2023 yuletide will be one to be celebrated amidst one of the greatest hardships.
This, according to him, follows the increasing unemployment, underemployment, and the decreasing GDP.
Above all, the subsidy removal, increasing inflation, and free fall of the Naira have led to an increase in transportation, high cost of food prices, clothing, and virtually every other thing that would be needed to experience a memorable celebration.
In the face of all these, landlords have turned shylocks by increasing rents to cover their cost of living, thereby making life more difficult for tenants.
So, citizens are struggling to save for rent, and school fees which come immediately after the yuletide while also thinking of how to celebrate the yuletide in the face of the current hardships.
A respondent, Mrs Sarah Danjuma, a Kaduna resident said she is yet to see the ‘Renewed Hope,’ because things are even worse, especially in this Yuletide season.
She posited that things are very expensive in the market and that purchasing power of the citizens, especially the low income earners is very low.
“There is no money, prices of commodities are still high and the standard of living is still very poor and people are suffering. It is not easy.
“Imagine a few days to Christmas, the price of fuel is still high. What does that tell you? The exchange rate is high. Everything is almost getting out of the common man’s reach.
“But I advise that government should reduce the prices of foodstuff. What is the essence of having money when you cannot use it to purchase anything meaningful in the market? “ She asked
Also, clapping her hands in despair, Eunice Abraham, a mother of four and a seamstress, said: What sort of thing is this? This exclamation explains her frustration over low patronage ahead of the yuletide celebrations.
She said she had never experienced this kind of hardship. “I stocked my shop with all kinds of tailoring materials to prepare for Christmas work; but as I speak, only very few people bring materials for sewing or call to check for the products or the finished work. Everybody is complaining about lack of money.
The Acting Executive Director of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), Mrs Hannatu Ahuwan, opined that times are biting harder for most Nigerians. She premised that the economic situation keeps getting worse.
According to Statistics, about 12% of the overall poor people in the world live in Nigeria. And this is happening in the midst of government’s promises to take no fewer than a hundred million Nigerians out of poverty.
Mrs. Ahuwan said the Yuletide season is usually a time full of activities both in celebration of Christmas and the New Year and some tribal or community annual days in between.
According to her, Nigerians, especially Christians, are going about with preparations for the yuletide, some are planning to travel. Notwithstanding whether traveling or not, the hustle and bustle indicate the festive period.
“With the current economic situation, most families can hardly have three square meals a day.
“However, people are looking forward to the festive period. Families are struggling to provide something for the celebrations.
“The provisions may not be as usual but at least the meals will be a bit better than the everyday meal.
“Not even sure many families may be able to afford chicken this season, but I tell you, people are looking forward to catching up with others, having fun, and forgetting their sorrows.
“Remember, Nigerians always try to rise above their sorrows by finding joy no matter what. We must pull on that inner strength in us to push on no matter the situation we find ourselves in.
“For Nigerians, celebrating yuletide amidst hardship reflects the resilience and spirit of the people to find joy despite challenges, “she said.
It will, however, be noted that President Bola Tinubu had during the week approved a 50% reduction in transport cost on 22 interstate roads plied by luxury buses. That is addition to an arrangement for trains to ferry passengers free of charge during this yuletide.
Also, in a spirited response to the hardship imposed on Nigerians by the sudden petrol subsidy removal, the g federal government had introduced a number of palaitives either directly or through the state chief executives to cushion its effects.
In his own submission, however, Yusuf Ishaku Goje submitted that these are not good times for Nigerians as the economic challenges are biting harder.
He opined that a combination of rising poverty, unemployment, inflation (especially food inflation), the cost of premium motor spirit, devaluation of the Naira against the dollar, and insecurity have combined to make the life of an ordinary man miserable.
“Now that the yuletide is upon us, there is no gainsaying that millions will be onlookers while the celebration will pass by.
“It is now the norm rather than the exception that every market day comes with an increase in the cost of items.
“The hardest hit is household income and consumption. Many are suffering and smiling, even though the smile is gradually turning into groaning.
“For many, they are now at the mercy of neighbors, friends, and relations if they are coming any closer to having a taste of celebrating the yuletide. It will also not be out of place if the government can intervene with palliatives to cushion the hardship during the yuletide celebration.”
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, said Nigerians especially Kaduna state residents have a reason to celebrate the yuletide because his principal is putting in place programs and projects that will have direct impacts on the citizens.
Muhammad Lawal Shehu said knowing the importance of the yuletide celebration, Governor Uba Sani personally attended the Kaduna Unity Christmas Carol organized by the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), English Service, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area.
He disclosed that the Governor at the Christmas Carol promised that his government would develop every part of Kaduna State, without giving ethnic or religious consideration to the citing of development projects.
“One of the most important agenda of our government is to ensure that we carry our people along.
“Human capital development is the most important thing. And today, I discussed with them, as I did in every forum. I try to make it clear to the people of Kaduna State that we are not concerned with any religious or ethnic differences.
“We are one family and we are going to work together without segregation or discrimination,” he added.
“There is no essence of governance if you cannot provide amenities to the people of Kaduna State. For me, that is key. Another area we are looking at is trying to take development to rural areas of Kaduna State.
“That is why our current budget is a ‘Budget of Rural Transformation and Inclusive Development,’ so, we are going to take development to all rural areas of the state.”
“Our women and youths who are entrepreneurs, we have set aside money in our budget to support them through their own business. We will reach deserving people who are poor, vulnerable, and underserved through our religious, community, and Non-Governmental Organisations because politicians are always looking at the next election”
The Governor reiterated, “When I was sworn in on the 29th of May, I tried as much as possible to carry everybody along. So, when I was invited for the Christmas Carroll, I came because when I was young, we used to participate in such kind of activities.”
“When I was young, we used to participate in such kind of activities. My father usually encourages me to attend all Christmas carols because most of our family friends are Christians.
“There is nothing new here. I enjoyed my coming, and I am happy when I see the citizens of Kaduna who are in this very important celebration highly happy. They are confident that Kaduna State Government would carry everyone along and will try to take development to every part of the State”.
Muhammad Lawal Shehu, therefore, is of the view that celebrating the yuletide amidst hardship is over in Kaduna state and to demonstrate this, Gov.Sani will be celebrating Christmas with Christians in the Government House on 25th December
Reacting to this, Hajia Hadiza Unar of Hope for Children’s Initiative is of the view that most homes may not feel the celebration or may not be in full gear because the times are hard.
The economic crunch, low cash flow, inflation, and upcoming fees to be paid in January according to her is foremost in the minds of parents, guardians, and caregivers.
She stressed that most homes would rather save for the times ahead than give in to the celebrations and the glamour it attracts.
“It is so disheartening though a few refuse to give in to challenges and would rather celebrate and hope for tomorrow.
“As Nigerians, we continue to push forward despite the hardship. Importantly and most appreciated is the break from school runs, and office closure that will give rest from fuelling vehicles and allow for quality time with friends and family.”
Also, the Program Officer of Hope for Children’s Initiative, Mary Sebastine, affirmed that Nigerians are facing hardships, fear, and difficulties so much that hardly any hands of support are extended to the poor, and the needy, and the yuletide is being celebrated amid insecurity, high cost of living among others.
But for some Nigerians, it is more than a Christmas celebration, it is a period of homecoming but all this is defeated as people can not travel because of the increased transportation cost.
“However, the worsening security challenges in the country, the biting economic hardship, and an astronomic increase in transport fares have changed the narrative. People are afraid to go home for fear of being killed by bandits and unknown gunmen,” she said.
