By Sakariyah Ridwanullah
Today, Nigeria feels like a nation walking through fire with its eyes fixed on a distant promise of light. Markets are noisier, wallets are thinner, and every journey by bus or commercial transport feels like a negotiation between necessity and affordability.
Conversations in homes, offices, and campuses now orbit the same themes: the rising cost of living, structural reforms, and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In interviews conducted by New Daily Prime across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, and Sokoto states, ordinary Nigerians spoke with unusual candour about pain, patience, hope, and distrust. The administration’s diagnosis of decades of structural decay is widely acknowledged by analysts, but the question now is: will these sacrifices bring the promised relief or are they simply another chapter of postponed hope?
To begin, the Tinubu administration regularly asserts that its economic reforms are necessary to stabilise and revitalise the economy after years of fiscal strain and distortion. These reforms include the removal of long-standing petrol subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, aimed at correcting inefficient fiscal outlays and restoring investor confidence.
Government and some economic experts argue that tough choices now will build a firmer foundation for future growth, even if they hurt in the short term.
Despite this, many Niger the speed and sequencing of these policies have amplified hardship for ordinary citizens, particularly in transport and food sectors.
According to The Punch, President Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties faced by Nigerians but defended the measures as essential, saying: “The only alternative to the reforms our administration initiated was a fiscal crisis that would have bred runaway inflation, external debt default, crippling fuel shortages, a plunging naira, and an economy in free-fall.”
Similarly, international financial institutions have also weighed in on the reforms, praising certain strides while laying emphasis on persistent socioeconomic pain.
The International Monetary Fund noted that Nigeria’s economic reforms “have put the Nigerian economy in a better position to navigate this external environment” but cautioned that “gains have yet to benefit all Nigerians as poverty and food insecurity remain high.”
This reflects a pattern seen across global economic assessments: macro stability does not automatically translate into broad-based welfare gains.
Hardship on the Ground
In Lagos, Abdulganiyu Ajoke, CEO of Lateefahqimar Couture in Igando, described her immediate thoughts when hearing President Tinubu’s name: “A reformer willing to take tough decisions for long-term national stability.” She added that her view has been confirmed over time: “His actions have confirmed him as a decisive leader focused on correcting structural economic problems rather than postponing them.”
Ajoke observed that while the government seems aware of ordinary Nigerians’ living conditions, short-term pain is part of the adjustment for necessary economic reforms. “Daily expenses have increased, but I see this as part of the adjustment phase of necessary economic reforms,” she explained, highlighting the household challenge of adapting to higher fuel and food costs.
In addition, Rauf Fuad, a phone engineer from Olowotedo, Ogun state, echoed the strain of these adjustments. “Hard economic decisions and the tough situation Nigerians are currently facing,” he said. “They may understand, but the hardship on the ground shows that more practical support is still needed.” Fuad described the spike in transportation, electricity, and food costs, noting that “everything is more expensive now… which has increased the cost of running my business and home.” For his household, “the high cost of food and fuel… affects both my work and family daily.”
Speaking on leadership under pressure, Folorunsho Victor, CEO of Campusinfo Educational Consult Ltd., reflected on the broader implications of reform. “President Tinubu represents a bold attempt at economic restructuring, a leader who has chosen difficult reforms over convenient popularity. His name now evokes the image of a government determined to reset the system, even when the cost is politically and socially uncomfortable.”
He said his view of the President has evolved: “The magnitude of the economic challenges and the speed with which tough decisions such as subsidy removal were taken have revealed a more decisive, reform-driven leadership style than many anticipated.”
On the government’s awareness of citizens’ struggles, Victor added, “While policy explanations are given, the daily struggle of the average Nigerian… demands not only understanding but urgent cushioning measures.” He described the rising costs of transport, food, and electricity as “placing strain on household planning, savings, and long-term stability.”
Conversely, Adeyemi Emmanuel, CEO of YEMMSA Global Ltd., offered a starkly different perspective. “Omor, don’t let us even go there because the poverty outside is too much and since I have been in this country it hasn’t been like this before,” he said candidly. Emmanuel emphasised his refusal to support policies that neglect ordinary Nigerians: “I will never support any decision that has no mercy for the masses.” Asked about government performance, he added, “Nothing is being done right; a lot of things went wrong with this current administration. Appointments? Never ooooo.” His comments reflect a segment of Nigerians frustrated by reforms perceived as disconnected from grassroots realities.
In the same vein, Basheer Olarewaju, an author and communication strategist in Ilorin, presented a contrasting optimism.
“The first thing that comes to mind is ‘The Architect of Modern Nigeria.’ I see a leader with the rare courage to perform a ‘surgical operation’ on a system that had been ailing for decades. His name has become synonymous with bold, unavoidable reforms that prioritise the future of the next generation over the convenience of the present.”
Olarewaju described Tinubu’s leadership as “Collaborative Courage,” praising the government’s macroeconomic management, infrastructure investments, and technocratic appointments, while recognising that reforms inevitably involve transitional hardship.
From a scholarly perspective, Mrs Idera Baliqees, a lecturer at Nana Aisah College of Education in Ilorin, noted the importance of implementation. “They know and there are series of policies rolled out to cushion the effect… He just needs to put a workable mechanism in place to ensure the cushioning programs are fully implemented at the grassroots.” She praised the courage and decisiveness of Tinubu’s administration but emphasised that tangible results at the household level remain critical.
Speaking to New Daily Prime in Ibadan, Abdurrozaq Àlàmú, a data analyst, voiced cautious critique: “I expected him to do better as the president of Nigeria, but the reverse is the case.” He acknowledged the government’s awareness of citizens’ hardships yet criticised policy burdens falling on the populace.
“The most difficult change is the strength and ability to survive despite all odds,” he said, adding that his trust in leadership has declined, though he still sees potential for change if planning improves.
In Sokoto, a younger voice adds nuance to this conversation. AbdulRahman AbdulYekeen, a final-year computer engineering student at Usman Danfodiyo University, described Tinubu as “the person that’s failing Nigerians’ hope but not failed totally.” He argued that opposition is constrained by democratic law, supporting the President indirectly despite dissatisfaction. “Proper economic planning will bring change,” he concluded, reflecting the guarded hope of a younger generation witnessing reforms unfold.
Policy Intent vs Practical Impact
Across socioeconomic backgrounds, Nigerians stressed the importance of seeing reforms translate into everyday relief. Fuel subsidy removal, currency unification, and fiscal tightening are technical measures, but respondents consistently pointed to the rising cost of food, transport, and utilities as central to judging government performance. Labour unions and civil society movements have amplified these concerns, staging strikes and demonstrations to demand better income alignment with inflation.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The voices captured by New Daily Prime reveal a Nigeria caught between hope and hardship. Citizens truly recognise the boldness and rationale behind many of President Tinubu’s decisions yet feel the pain of economic strain daily.
Some see these measures as necessary medicine; others view them as burdens requiring stronger palliative support. Optimism, patience, frustration, and cautious hope coexist across the country.
As Nigeria navigates its economic transition, the message from these respondents is clear: Nigerians are watching closely, feeling policy choices in their wallets, and weighing promises of future stability against today’s reality. Thus, leadership will be judged not solely on economic theory or macro indicators but on the tangible improvements experienced by ordinary citizens.
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