Fatimoh Akinpelu

“Nigeria is bad. It is a very bad country. It isn’t worth living in. Of all countries, why must I be born in Nigeria? The cost of living is too high.”

These are the familiar words that echo daily in the mouths of countless Nigerians. We curse the government, insult our leaders, and lament the state of our nation. Rarely do we stop to pray for our dear country or speak positively about her future. Walk down any street, and you’ll hear conversations filled with criticism, blame, and hopelessness.

But pause for a moment.  Could it be that not all our problems come from the government? Could it be that, in some ways, we, the citizens, also contribute to the hardship we complain about?

Let me share a simple story.

It was a Sunday. A program was scheduled to hold that day, and everything was set — the environment was clean, the decorations were beautiful, the food and drinks were ready, even the small chops for the tea break were neatly packed. But there was one thing missing: “pure” water.

Because of its importance, two others and I were sent to get some.

Being a Sunday, everywhere was calm, most shops were closed, the roads were quiet, and people were resting, having gone through the week’s stress. After a short search, we found two shops open, side by side.

We approached the first shop and asked for the price of a bag of “pure” water.
“₦500,” the shopkeeper replied.

₦500? The same bag we usually buy in the hostel for ₦350! Shocked, we walked away and went to the second shop but to our surprise, it was the same price there too.

We were angry, but we had no choice. The program had to continue, and we needed the water. We bought it reluctantly.

Now, here’s the question: Do these sellers get their water from heaven? Why make life harder for others just because you can? The sellers who sell for ₦350 still make a profit, so why inflate the price just because demand is high or for some other reason?

This is not an isolated case. We see it in our hostels, our markets, our communities, and everywhere. We complain that Nigeria is hard, yet we make it harder for ourselves through greed, selfishness, and exploitation.

Yes, the government has its faults: poor leadership, corruption, and bad policies among others. But when we cheat one another and inflate prices unnecessarily,  are we not also part of the problem?

True change does not begin only from the Aso Rock, from the Government. It begins with you and me. From our mindset, our actions, and our willingness to treat one another fairly.

If we truly want a better Nigeria, we must learn to be better Nigerians. The government alone cannot fix this country; the citizens must rise to live by honesty, fairness, and empathy.

Because, in the end, a nation is only as good as its people, and a leader will be from the midst of people that are in great number in the nation, be it good or bad.