Nigeria: Tinubu’s Leadership – A Year on the Brink of Disaster

University students in Nigeria are facing extreme hardships due to the economic crisis brought on by the Tinubu administration’s IMF-directed austerity program. Ajadi Sodiq, a student at the University of Ibadan, used to receive a monthly allowance that covered his expenses comfortably. However, with the country’s struggling economy, his reality has shifted from livable to almost unbearable.

“I now eat only once daily, a few hours after noon, just to make it through the day,” Ajadi shared. This drastic change in lifestyle is not unique to him but reflects a broader trend among young people across the country.

Nigeria is currently grappling with its worst economic crisis in recent years, with the currency losing half its value against the dollar in the past year. President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy has tripled fuel costs, leading to a ripple effect across all sectors and pushing essential commodities out of reach for many Nigerians.

University students like Olaomo Favour in Lagos have had to make significant lifestyle adjustments to cope with the economic downturn. From canceling food orders to cutting down on daily meals, students are resorting to extreme austerity measures to survive the highest inflation rates of their lifetime.

The implications of these measures, both in terms of nutrition and psychological well-being, are concerning. Experts warn of the impact on students’ ability to learn and concentrate in the classroom.

While the government has introduced palliative measures, students continue to struggle to make ends meet. As they adapt to the harsh economic climate, the long-term solutions lie in government policies that address the root causes of the crisis. In the meantime, students are left to navigate a challenging economic landscape with resilience and creativity.