Yesterday I received my electricity bill and it was the highest I have ever received, N19,000. To put things into context, that's more than the minimum wage in Nigeria, but that's by the way. What actually gets me upset is the fact that the power supplied is poor and cannot carry most of our heavy appliances. I also have to fuel my generator which costs roughly N10,000-N15,000 monthly. So basically I am spending close to the minimum wage on power monthly.
When we moved to our residence, we had to pay for the connect our building to the grid with a community free of about $300 dollars then (which should be around 200,000 now). The current transformer we use was bought by the community and it barely supplies decent current to homes in the neighborhood and the electricity company hasn't done anything to improve this situation in the last 6 years.
When I consider how difficult things are getting in Nigeria I am filled with some level of fear. It has gone past the stage of apathy which many Nigerians are used to into dangerous lines that can result in full-blown anarchy. Many middle class families are being plunged into poverty; the people are fighting desperately for their lives in silence and denial of the fact that things might get pretty ugly.
There is a current debate about the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria which would see PMS move from about N185 naira to about N800. I do not think the federal government will remove the fuel subsidy although it would be good in the long run for our economy. The short run outcome is unimaginable i.e 3 time increase in transportation which would cripple the economy instantly.
The reality is that Nigeria is in a big mess and we are not on the trajectory to getting our country out of it. The corrupt political class want to run things as usual at the detriment of the people they serve. I foresee an uprising that would destabilize the entire polity. It is almost inevitable at this point.
My only prayer and hope is that I leave this hell hole before it's too late and time isn't one of my many luxuries. I am working harder than I ever have and despite the many bottlenecks, and it seems everything in Nigeria is conspiring against me, to make a mass of my work from the creeping inflation to the unruly policeman on the street. It all seems like a deliberate to crash the spirit of the average man who doesn't want to spoil his reputation for the prospect of financial gains.
Nevertheless, I am persistent in my pursuit for a better life. If that entails working two jobs and learning a new skill I am up for the challenge because what I do foresee scares the hell out of me. Cheers!