THE INFLATION IN NIGERIA AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICES IN INI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

^{Distribution of Relief Items at Ini Local Government Area - Scr Local Government Media}

*Everyone needs food to sur, ive for we eat and live to eat*

It is no longer news that inflation has become the common enemy apart from insecurity in Nigeria. Not as if people are not working hard to survive daily. In fact, a typical Nigerian can survive anywhere because we have passed through it all. We can't lose hope that one day, leadership will know what governance represents and also learn to improve economic and tackle insecurity like other nations. We are strongly working on a better Nigeria because this is the only country we can call our own.

Our major challenges are the rise in fuel price and liquid petroleum gas ( LPG) and other gasoline prices. As the current president gave his speech and said “fuel subsidy gone”, it wasn't until 5 hours that Nigeria experienced fuel hikes in every state simultaneously. Various agencies linked to this sector might have felt that they were not consulted, hence where we are now.

Once there are fuel hikes, transportation increases, and the price of commodities follows in that direction. Farmers will sell what they have according to the market valuation so that they can buy from the market too.

Another strong area is the depreciation of the Nigerian currency (naira). 5, 10, 20, 50 naira are no longer able to buy anything in Nigeria, while the highest naira note “1000 naira” is worth less of its economic value.

Insecurity now does not allow for free flow of commercial agricultural products from the northern part of the country and across other regions. Kidnapping, killings, and other unpredictable activities poses fear amongst businesses, people, and marketers.

In some areas like Ini Local Government, basic amenities are not provided by the government, leaving reasonable percentages to wallow in poverty while the average ones survive through agriculture (peasants). Engaging in commercial agriculture for survival is demanding, and a lot of people are giving up.

Due to the state of poverty and hunger, many politicians, some with a good heart of representation, visit to distribute relief items to some of the indigenes as they could categorize. While others use the condition of people to give people relief items and money to win the heart of the people to vote them into office as if governance is about food.

^{Ini Local Government Area Political Leaders - Scr Local Government Media}

Sometimes, I asked if politicians are using hardship as a weapon or tactics and then go ahead to give the hungry citizens food that can not even go around 3 square meals to get them to do their bidding? The blueprint of governance is to make life comfortable for the citizens, but today's world is the case.

In Ini Local Government Area, food items like rice, salt, oil, Maggi, and others were packaged and distributed at the headquarters of the local government area. However, the beneficiaries expressed their happiness. Why won't everyone celebrate food, including me, I will collect and appreciate it because we are all hungry. The country's economy is so bad that even if you earn 200k a month, it can not carry you and your family due to the high cost of things in the market.

Distribution of rice has been the only frequency response from this present government from the federal government to the local government. Many of these items carry the face and the name of those politicians who donate them. Isn't it clear that it is a political construct for the interest of winning elections rather than pure humanitarian?

1. Politicians should focus on tackling insecurities by providing a clean system that the military 🪖 is not politicized and allowing them to confront and end insecurity.
2. In the area of “Inflation”, the price of commodities should be regulated.
3. The fuel subsidy program should be reviewed since its removal has impoverished the nation.
4. Relief items should not come to people because politicians use it as an avenue to campaign.
5. Every sitting politician should go back to the blueprint of governance in order to provide the basic amenities rather than political tactics to win the heart of the people.
6. Citizens should not sell their vote because of poverty, vote for the right people for good governance.

I wished to conclude by appreciating the effort of the politician's, in whatever manner, at least people were fed on a short term, while I admonished them to have better plans for the people who voted them into power.