Citizens in Nigeria are adapting to economic hardship with resignation rather than outrage. This shift is evident in various parts of the country, where people are finding ways to cope with inflation, fuel costs, and food prices. In Lagos, a young man at a bus stop quietly adjusts his travel plans, trekking part of the journey instead of protesting the fare. In Ibadan, a woman in a market prices a bag of rice and buys half of what she initially planned, laughing softly in disbelief.
The economic realities of the past year have tested the limits of public endurance in Nigeria. Inflation has stretched household budgets, fuel costs have redefined mobility, and food prices have turned basic nutrition into careful arithmetic. Despite the strain, the streets are not filled with sustained civic pressure. Instead, Nigerians are coping by cutting portions, extending timelines, improvising alternatives, and lowering standards.
The gradual drift from resilience to resignation is a cause for concern. When crises become routine, they lose their ability to shock, and once hardship becomes ordinary, it becomes easier for those in power to treat it as acceptable. This shift has long-term consequences, as a citizenry that expects less will inevitably receive less. Governments respond to pressure, and where pressure is weak or inconsistent, performance often follows suit.
The slow adjustment to less in Nigeria marks a worrisome trend. As citizens stop demanding and start adjusting, accountability begins to evaporate. The normalisation of hardship has made it easier for those in power to treat it as acceptable. This shift has significant implications for the country's future, as a citizenry that expects less will inevitably receive less. The government must be held accountable for its policies, and Nigerians must continue to demand better. The distinction between resilience and resignation is crucial, as the former fights to overcome difficulty while the latter quietly learns to live with it.
