It is over a year – nearing two years – since the Change enforced on Nigerians has taken its stand. Yes, the Change came, saw and conquered the Aso Villa. But one would expect, of course, a very rapid development in some spheres of the economy and total overhauling of the necessary sectors, considering the huge promises made during the election campaign.

Now that it is over a year and some months into the administration, efforts to achieving these feats promised have proved abortive and left everyone thinking if there would still be light at the end of the tunnel of the ‘Change’ government. Hope has been lost and dashed. Suffice to say that the economy is on a standstill, as nothing is working yet. Unarguably, the Change mantra has in one way or the other affected every Tom, Dick and Harry. Nigerians have been driven to an uncharted territory where lamentation seems to be unending, after a lot of sacrifices dispensed to actualise the establishment of ‘Change’ in the country. The rich complains while the poor are dejected. However, when it comes to analysing the pros and cons of the present administration, virtually everyone has a story to tell – the good, the bad and the ugly side of it all.

Obviously, residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have more bitter and bewildering stories to recount: ranging from issues of accommodation, payment of school fees, transport fares, purchase of building materials, etc. Regarded as the seat of government, Abuja has been a mega city, where situations therein can never be compared with what obtains in other states of the federation. For example, people get a village room for the same amount that could secure a 3-bedroom flat in other states, say Ibadan, Oyo State. From testimonies of some residents, the administration is doing more harm than good and, even, many will not point at a reasonable thing achieved so far – since May 2015. Many now feel disappointed by the Change mantra

In the course of writing this article, some residents of Abuja were approached to express their opinions. Fortunately, they happily bared their minds on different issues which the change of government has terribly bastardised. To some, the time which the APC government has used would not have been able to achieve the expected change, while many have criticised the administration on the ground that it is from the little time that one knows a responsible and listening government with a clear-cut agenda to move a nation to the next phase of growth and development.

Commercial Motorcyclists/Drivers

Many commercial drivers and motorcyclists have raised issues concerning the hardship being experienced on a daily basis, including the increase in fuel prices and other challenges.

A driver quipped: “You will see a big man, well-dressed, begging you that he has N50 to pay for fare, instead of the normal N100. We drivers too know that the economy is not friendly with anybody. So, we try to adjust to yearnings of people, sometimes. But we are being affected seriously. Another said: “Many beg us because they don’t have money to pay. But if we continue to convey people, displeasing ourselves, how do we get money to feed our children and wives at home? We also have responsibilities to shoulder. May God help us.”

A Hausa motorcyclist, when asked why he inscribed: “Change Has Been Negative All These While” at the rear back of his motorcycle, charged: “You are still asking me questions? Are you not in the country? You, yourself, are you not experiencing things in a negative way? Oga, let us not deceive ourselves, we all know the truth. Many people are now motorcyclists. I don’t know where they are coming from. Will I blame them, when things no de work for the country again and dey wan chop? Abeg, make I no talk jare. I dey vex.

Drug Sellers

“Even a deaf and dumb practically knows all is not well with Nigeria at the moment, because there is no money everywhere and that’s what we hear every day,” a drug seller opined. Another trader in Gwarimpa market noted: “For many months now, things have really changed. Our markets have not been moving like before, because people are complaining they don’t have money. So, we decided to accept our fate.”

Foodstuff Sellers

Recounting her ordeal was another trader who sells foodstuffs. She argued: “There is Absolutely nowhere this situation has not touched. We are only struggling to survive every day. Things are hard and we cannot shy away from that fact. I can tell you that price of food stuffs are on the increase every day we go to market. Even, we are being forced to sell it at a rate it does not pay us. We hardly get profit. A bag of rice is more than minimum wage. That is why people hardly come to get food stuffs from us.”

To another respondent, “Our sales have really dropped and we don’t know what to do. We come to market and go home with very little profit because of low patronage of our goods. At times, some of us don’t even come to the market because we use much money on transportation too, and don’t want to keep wasting money. It is only God who has been saving our lives.”

School Proprietors

A chat on the Change administration engendered some insightful response from some private school owners in Abuja. A school proprietress, Mrs Adebimpe Ajani, of Supreme International School on 2nd Avenue, Gwarimpa, posited: “Let me say the situation has not been the same. There is now a shift in the system.

“Parents can no longer afford to pay their wards’ school fees. Their wards no longer go for summer lesson. This is to tell you we are battling with a very big problem. And we are afraid that the situation must not persist, for avoidance of imminent doom. We now pay our teachers their salaries late, and it is reflecting in their countenance. It’s just a difficult time which I think would pass away.”

Another proprietor, Mr Adewale Solarin, said: “These are really hard times, like people would say. Or, permit me to say, perilous times. We are not in a country where we are still safe. I believe anything could just happen at any time. In the last few months before pupils went for holiday, we witnessed change; but a bad one as we witnessed a shrink number of them. Now that they are on holiday, we don’t know what may happen next. But we hope they shall all come back in full.”

Residential Accommodation

For many years, residential accommodation has become a very big issue in Abuja: let’s say it’s a no-go-area for one who needs to consider his pocket before settling in the city. Even some people have said that those who stay in ‘estates’ in Abuja must be thieves, ghost-workers, ritualists, big-time prostitutes, politicians, businessmen, fraudsters, and the like, due to the costly amount it takes to rent a room, let alone build a house, in an estate.

Mr Olaoluwa Segun, who is planning to leave his current room at Lugbe Area to relocate to a village in Gwarimpa 11, recounted his ordeal to Frontiers News, saying: “For now, I am looking for a landlord that can accept six months’ rent from me, because my house rent has been increased by 5 per cent. When I got to the new place I plan to get, I was asked to pay 180,000 for a room self-contain. Please, where will I get that for just a room, considering my current condition?”

Another Abuja resident, Femi Ayoola, has suffered demotion as far as accommodation issue is concerned. He confessed: “I must tell you my brother, things have gone worst. My own case is just like moving from frying pan to fire. Where I stay before, I was paying N250,000 for a room in an estate. And now, to pay just N150,000 for a room is difficult. I hope I will not go back to my village soon. Things like this get me sad.”

Child Abuse

Without doubt, the advent of Change has caused many wards who are supposed to be given proper education and home-training to be victims of domestic abuse For example a young boy who confided to this reporter, disclosed: “Our parents asked us to go and get firewood because they cannot buy kerosene to cook again. They said it’s too costly. So, that’s why we go into the bush almost every day to fetch firewood and carry it home. And we must not complain or else they will beat us.”

After all, it is common knowledge that there are angry citizens across the country; people who are in dire need of government’s help to salvage their situation. And the question that comes to mind is: “What is the government doing? Is the Federal Government even aware that Nigerians are suffering more than one could imagine?

•Photo courtesy of LEADERSHIP shows Abuja slum.

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