Why Nigerians don’t keep to New Year resolutions

By Femi  Oyelola

In what has become a tradition across the  globe, people usually make New Year resolutions at the beginning of the year, either to start doing certain good things they couldn’t do before or to stop doing the things they think are not good enough. However, findings show that many people forget their resolutions as early as the first week of January. But that hasn’t stop the tradition of people vowing to make certain adjustments to their lifestyle, using the New Year as a platform.

Theres is no doubt therefore that in the next 48 hours, many Nigerians would have made a long list of their dos and donts wrapped as their resolutions for the new year.

New Year resolution is a tradition, in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their life.

The situation Nigerian citizens have found themselves, sometimes does not encourage them to keep  their resolutions. Accordingly, while some people adhere to their resolutions, others easily fall by yhe way side, abandoning them at the slightaest chance. This raises the question of whether New Year’s resolutions are only an annual tradition or if people really seek fresh starts in many areas of their lives.

Dr. John Shedrack the CEO of Vision, Medical Complex U/Sunday in Chikun Local Government of  Kaduna State feels that resolutions are very essential in life because it has worked for him over the years.

According to him, his resolution for last year is now a reality and he has made great achievements despite the rough path. He opined that it takes hard work, focus, and determination to adhere to resolutions.

When asked what his New Year resolutions for 2024 Dr. Shedrack said it is a success in his studies, establish a standard clinic before the end of his program, and then settle down maritally.

Similarly  The National  President of the Arewa  Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Alhaji  Yerima Shettima there’s

No perfect time to make better life choices, but the idea behind New Year resolutions is fantastic because it encourages dropping unproductive habits, staying consistent with beneficial routines, or starting new ones and that is the reason that is foremost resolution is for Nigeria to remain in peaceful in 2024 and beyond.

“We’ve had challenges in 2023 and lack of instability coupled with other challenges, that made people stay very poor which is not what we expected nor what Nigeria deserves.

“So my prayer is for peace, so that there will be stability, and people like us can have food on the table with our families and at the same time, live peacefully.

“On general view, it’s no story that we are in economic crisis, it’s no story that we are very divided and it’s also no story that the unity of this country is threatened.

“My prayer before the new government and my message to the new president is to find ways to unite the country irrespective of our differences or diversity.

“Unite us and look for a shorter way to alleviate this poverty, pushing the effect of this policy that we have come out with from Buhari’s government to his government so that the common people will be happy and at the end of the day, the country will be stable because when there’s no stability in the country, there’s no way progress can come as a nation. So this is my prayer for the nation.

“And to the issue of security which is very important. We are still suffering from insecurity issues.

“The challenge before the new government is to bring the service chiefs together, let there be synergy unlike what was obtained in the previous government where there’s a lack of synergy among the security chiefs.

“He must bring them to order and tell them, this is what he expects of them so that at the end of the day, there can be proper watch on them and this insecurity issue will come to a close.

“This is my prayer and resolution I hope that the president will hear this and  take action,” Yerima said

There are so many reasons why people do not Have or make resolutions.

Antonia Timothy while responding to this correspondent said she  personally don’t believe so much in making New Year resolutions owing to the simple fact that, by the 2nd week of January of the New Year, most people like her forget about their resolutions.

But when asked what is her resolution for 2024 Antonia said” To stop following people’s husbands and wait on God for my own.”

According to her, she’s been in the business  of  running after  married  men for a while  and she is even known for that in her vicinity.

Antonia says she had decided to stop so that unworthy fellows and married men could stop chasing her and give way for her real man to come for her

Many  Nigerians are not fans of making New Year resolutions. Rather, they are an advocate of making good of whatever life throws at them. Hence, every day they set out with the mindset “I must be better than I was yesterday”.

Authenticating this the  National  President  of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Isaiah  Benjamin said while  he  is

Not dispute the fact that some people make and stick with their New Year resolutions, he is for being a better version of the old self in the new year by setting small, realistic, and achievable goals for myself.

According to him his resolutions for 2024 are to trust God for help to impact lives positively, be much closer to God, and provide for the needy and vulnerable in the society.

“As National President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) am equally trusting God to break new grounds, initiate opportunities for training and retraining of our members, and above all engage in genuine reconciliation with aggrieved members, and also ensure capacity building for members on modern day reporting standards.” He stressed

In his views ASP. Adeolu Robinson said that he’s grateful to God for a successful 2023 and has made a resolution to do more in his duties to support the government in the fight against insecurity.

A hairstylist, Aunty Lovina, said she hopes to make more money in 2024. According to her, 2023 was a good start, but she hopes her business improves more.

Mummy Tomiwa, who’s a trader, lamented about the hike in the price of goods and services which affected her business. She said she resolves to expand her business in 2024 as an avenue to increase income.

Architect Lawrence Gambo Peters an Architect and Teacher based in Kaduna said  2023 has been tough but Awesome. In his case, he had a resolution to learn two new things and he has been able to learn only one.

So his resolution for the year 2024 is to use the knowledge he acquired to make more money and impact society and also to be a Better Christian and a better person.

Miss Priscilla Adams an entrepreneur was frank in accepting that she didn’t make any resolution in 2023 but thanked God for His Faithfulness in her life, though the year was hard for her, she’s grateful for sound Health and life.

According to her, her daughter graduated from secondary with flying colors, her business grew in the year 2023.

So her resolution for this year is to enroll her daughter in the university and also expand her business.

She appreciates her customers for their good patronage in 2023 and hopes that 2024 holds good tidings.

Corroborating this Miss Mary David the writer said she has never resolved it as she fears it will limit her ability to achieve more or to want more in life.

Miss Mary prefers starting the year just with a good vibe hoping that good things come to her.

But in a sharp reaction, Mr James Onoja a singer opined that making resolutions is a total waste of time. He feels that making resolutions is emotional rather than tactical. Meaning that people make resolutions just for fear of the unknown.

He strongly kicks against it as many fall into depression when what they hope for doesn’t come to pass.