As the first days of a new year unfold, Nigerians find themselves balancing reflections on a difficult past year with aspirations for brighter days ahead. In this report, YETUNDE AJANAKU speaks with Nigerians on the dreams and hopes for the New Year.

For many Nigerians, 2024 was characterised by an unrelenting financial strain, political uncertainties, soaring costs, societal challenges, and the constant struggle to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, many still hung on hope as the New Year rolls by. Across cities and towns, Nigerians are expressing their dreams for a prosperous 2025. These dreams are fueled by resilience, faith, and a collective determination to succeed.

For some, business growth remains a top priority; others believe it?s time to draw closer to God and family. The recurrent feature was that they will not give up on their dreams to achieve personal, business, family and spiritual goals, among others, in the New Year.

A tailor in the Challenge area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr Sanni Abubarka, who began his craft with borrowed sewing machines, told Sunday Tribune he is determined to expand his business this year and take it to a great height.

?I want to save enough to buy my own equipment,? he said. ?Last year was about learning and surviving, but this year, I?m ready to grow and take my business to the next level.?

Similarly, a hairdresser at Oritameta area of Ibadan, Miss Grace Blessing, is optimistic about the opportunities ahead. ?Last year was tough, but I?ve built a loyal customer base,? she explained. ?This year, I plan to introduce new services and hopefully open a second location. I know it won?t be easy, but I?m ready to put in the work.?

One of the major critical areas where Nigerians hope to see significant improvement is the area of transportation. This is because the challenges of poor road networks, inadequate public transport, and rising transportation costs have affected everyday life and economic productivity.

?I drive daily to work, and the state of our roads is unbearable,? said a ride-hailing driver in Lagos, Musa Ibrahim. ?The potholes damage our cars, and the traffic wastes hours of our time. My wish for 2025 is for the government to take road repairs seriously. We also need better urban planning. The way cities are growing without proper transport systems is a disaster waiting to happen.?

Beyond road transport, Ibrahim pointed to the need for more integrated solutions. ?Imagine if we had working trains and water transport in Lagos. It would reduce congestion and make life easier for everyone. I hope this is the year when transport policies go beyond talk and become reality.?

?I run a small business, and the rising cost of goods has made it difficult to stay afloat,? lamented a Lagos-based fashion designer, Chinyere Adebayo. ?In 2025, I hope the government focuses on reducing inflation and creating opportunities for small businesses. We need access to affordable loans and infrastructure.?

?2024 dealt us a huge blow?

Others who spoke with Sunday Tribune harped on the impact of the harsh economy on lives and business in 2024. They also hope that the lessons learnt from the travails of the previous year will spur them towards economic recovery if the right policies and interventions are introduced by the government at different levels.

Recalling how her profit margins dropped drastically in 2024, a trader in Ibadan, Mrs Ester Oyedele, said: ?Last year was like a test of survival. I struggled to stock my shop, and sometimes, I had to borrow just to keep my business running.?

Similarly, a school teacher in the area of Oluyole Estate disclosed that the rising cost of living affected her family greatly, saying that: ?Basic things like food became a luxury. What we used to buy for N5,000 last year now costs almost double. It was hard to make the income generated stretch over a long period of time.?

A mother of three In Ibadan also shared how she had to make difficult choices. ?I had to cut down on the children?s meals and explain why we couldn?t afford the treats they were used to. It broke my heart,? she said.

Despite these hardships that came in the year 2024, many Nigerians are approaching 2025 with renewed determination.

A young entrepreneur in Ibadan expressed optimism about what the future holds. ?I believe this year will be different. I?ve learned so much from the struggles of last year, and I?m determined to make better decisions for my business. I?m praying for more customers and the chance to grow,? he said.

For a retired man in Olorunsogo Area, Mr Sunday Adeniyi, the sense of community is a source of strength and optimism that kept many people together in the previous years. He hopes that such communal support will equally transform the lives of many even in the New Year.

?Even when things were tough, neighbours looked out for one another,? Adeniyi said. ?This year, I hope we all find the peace and prosperity we deserve. And I pray the government does its part to make life better for everyone.?

Beyond personal, business growth

The hope for improved living conditions extends beyond individual or business aspirations for others. Many are looking to the government for solutions that will create a more stable economy. A Sport Director in Ibadan, Oladimeji Lawal, expressed his desire for politicians in the country to work together and reach a consensus on improved governance and economic policies that will turn around the fortunes of Nigeria and its people.

?We need stability. If the government can control inflation and create more opportunities for young people, everyone will benefit. I just want to see things get better for the average Nigerian,? Lawal said.

Echoing similar sentiments, a civil servant, Mr Ifeoluwa Tolulope, called on the government of the day to address the growing inflation, a move, he believes, will nip the bud of escalating cost of living, particularly food items, fuel and essential items, which have become not just a luxury but also a tall order for many households in the country.

Summing up his expectations, Tolulope said: ?We need policies that address inflation and make life easier for ordinary Nigerians. It?s not just about money; it?s about making sure that money has value.?

For a 35-year-old teacher, Blessing Okoro, who hails from Enugu State but lives in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the aspiration is straightforward: ?We need leaders who listen to us and take action. In 2024, we saw many promises go unfulfilled. My hope is that this year, politicians will prioritise the people over their interests.

?We don?t want leaders who only come to us during elections. This year, I want to see real progress in health care and education. Governance should be about service, not power.?

?For too long, politics in Nigeria has been about the politicians and not the people,? said a 42-year-old civil servant in Abuja, Aisha Bello. ?We want leaders who think beyond their terms in office. For many years, we saw many debates on who holds power, but what matters is how that power is used. I dream of a political system where young people and women have a real seat at the table, not just as token representatives but as active decision-makers.?

She emphasised that citizens are increasingly aware of their role in governance, adding that ?the protests we?ve had in the past show we are no longer passive. This year, I hope more Nigerians will use their voices to hold leaders accountable. It?s our collective duty to ensure that promises are kept and that governance serves us all.?

Sunday Tribune?s conversations with residents indicate that there is a pressing desire for governance that delivers and changes the fortunes of the citizenry as they are now yearning for a government that not only makes promises but implements policies with measurable impact.

In his description of aspirations for 2025, Edo-based lawyer, Chukwuemeka Eze, said: ?Governance must evolve. The lack of proper focus over the years has taught us the dangers of inefficiency and corruption. We need transparency in how public funds are used. For example, let?s have a system where every project is monitored, and the results are published for all to see. It?s no longer enough to announce projects; we want to see them completed on time and benefitting the communities they?re meant for.?

Eze also highlighted the need for decentralisation, stating that ?state and local governments must take more responsibility for development. The federal government cannot do everything. This year, my dream is to see stronger states driving change from the grassroots.?

Some others who spoke to Sunday Tribune also hope that the government can look at the peculiarities and potential in the areas of youth development and diversity to find common ground for solutions to the country?s woes.

One of them, Tunde Alabi, a tech enthusiast based in Abuja, sees hope in the digital economy. ?The tech sector is growing despite the challenges. If the government can invest in technology and innovation, Nigeria can create jobs for the youth. My dream is for Nigeria to become Africa?s tech hub.?

?2024 was tough, but Nigerians are tougher. What we need now is to come together as one nation. Our diversity is our strength, and if we work together, 2025 can be a year of breakthroughs,? said a community leader in Abeokuta, Adeola Ogunleye hoped.

Faith also plays a central role in how many Nigerians are approaching the New Year. This charcaterised the aspirations of Mrs Adeola Adeleke, who expressed her trust and hope in God to turn things around in the country, considering the economic challenges that defined the lives of many in the last 12 months.

?Last year was hard, but God never let me down,? Mrs Adeleke said. ?This year, I believe Him for bigger opportunities, for my business to grow, and for my children to have a better life.?

On her part, a trader at Apata market, Mrs Bisi Iyanda, said: ?I know things will improve. I?m hoping for stability in the market and better sales. We all need a break from the constant struggle.? (Sunday Tribune)

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