Surviving Nigeria: The Sad Realities of Being Nigerian 

As a little girl, I thought we would forever be stepping on mere earth, breathing fresh air, making history, achieving milestones, and living peacefully. Sigh. I guess those simple expectations were too luxurious for the shambles my fatherland became. Thanks to horrifying leaders, leaving the land of our birth is the new Nigerian dream.

Today, the earth we step on is viciously stained with the blood of victims of Nigeria. I sometimes wonder how many victims are crying for vengeance like the Able of old. 

I see Dubai bloom and watch Qatar flourish with envy. Please explain to me like I am a child, why are we not blooming and flourishing despite being a major oil-producing country like these countries? Is theirs blessed, and ours anathematized? 

The reward for abundant resources is usually economic growth. Alas! This is usually the case when the country isn’t Nigeria.  Over here, the reward for our resources is pollution and horrifying poverty. Have you been to the creeks? You could shed a tear for the poverty and pollution they endure. Additionally, black soot is our new reality. Honestly, I am afraid that fresh air is fast becoming a myth in the Niger Delta. I fear the unborn generation will only read of fresh air in books, but never experience it in our lands. Sigh.

Furthermore, for being Nigerian, you have to work twice as hard to receive global recognition. This is because the efforts of the good are constantly drowned by the deeds of our enormous bad eggs. Sigh. What a country! Are the odds ever in our favour?

Though witty, we only shine when we leave the shores of our motherlands. What a reality! Leaving Nigeria is the new Nigerian dream. So daily, someone leaves and hopes to never return. Therefore, friendship circles are constantly broken by distance, and people have to endure living far away from their loved ones. 

In search of sanity, security and greener pasture, we expose ourselves to environments where we are racially discriminated against. Hey! Have you taken out time to admire our weather structure? Our climate is so blessed, yet we relocate to extremely cold countries because though the sun shines gloriously, the future seems dim. 

The news headlines hop from one bad news to another. Lately, it feels like danger is lurking around in search of the next victim of Nigeria. Surviving each day is a blessing as your safety the next day is not guaranteed. At this point, touch your chest and tell your beating heart well-done. Truly, surviving Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted.  

The nonchalant behaviour of our leaders is appalling. Nigerians are known to be witty yet our leaders consistently underperform. At this junction, their failure appears to be intentional. They bask in failure, because the further we drown, the more wealth they amass. Egoism at its peak.

Also, the work culture is refurbished slavery. You are overworked and underpaid.

Finally, Nigeria is currently a sad story. Unfortunately, it is not just being watched on screens, rather it is the daily experience and reality of millions of people.

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