By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

Across Nigeria today, a quiet struggle is unfolding in homes, markets, and workplaces. While government officials speak of reforms, recovery, and long-term gains, ordinary citizens are grappling daily with rising costs, shrinking incomes, and an uncertain tomorrow.

From food prices to transportation fares, the burden on the average Nigerian has become heavier. Parents are forced to make tough choices, traders are battling low patronage, and young people are questioning whether hard work alone is still enough to guarantee a decent future.

The optimism that once greeted promises of economic turnaround is slowly giving way to anxiety and impatience.

Yet, in the midst of these challenges, Nigerians continue to display remarkable resilience.

Small businesses are adapting, communities are supporting one another, and many citizens are refusing to give up hope. This resilience, however, should not be mistaken for comfort or satisfaction.

What Nigerians are asking for at this
moment is not rhetoric, but relief clear policies that translate into affordable living, job creation, and restored confidence in governance.

Transparency, empathy, and decisive action are urgently needed to bridge the growing gap between policy intentions and everyday realities.

As the nation moves forward, this moment should serve as a reminder: progress is only meaningful when it is felt at the grassroots. Until then, the current mood of the country remains one of cautious hope, tempered by real and pressing hardship.

Mrs. Funke Adeyemi, a petty trader in Abeokuta. Said “Every day feels like a calculation,Before, I could restock my shop easily. Now, I think twice before buying anything because prices change overnight.”

“We hear about reforms, but what we really want is relief,” noted Mr. Ibrahim Sadiq, a commercial driver. “Fuel, spare parts, food everything has gone up, yet our earnings remain the same.”

Mrs. Grace Okonkwo, a public school teacher. Explianed that “Parents are struggling silently, “Some children come to school hungry, and it affects how they learn. These are things policies should urgently address.”