The sun had barely risen over the sprawling streets of Lagos when Chukwudi, a father of three, embarked on his daily struggle—an exhausting routine of battling overpriced transport fares, erratic electricity, and skyrocketing food prices. What once would have provoked nationwide protests has now become an accepted way of life. Like millions of Nigerians, he has learned to adjust, to endure, and—most dangerously—to normalize suffering as though it were a patriotic obligation.
Nigerians are adjusting to suffering as if it were a badge of honor, a grim reality that has become deeply ingrained in the nation’s psyche. Hardships that once sparked outrage now elicit only muted grumbles, while those responsible for the economic downturn continue to live in unchecked luxury. This phenomenon, reminiscent of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, mirrors the infamous “Napoleon is always right” mentality—where the ruling class thrives while the masses endure unimaginable hardship, convinced that their struggles are for the greater good.
A recent survey by SBM Intelligence revealed that over 63% of Nigerians now struggle to afford basic necessities, a direct consequence of rising inflation and an economy in free fall. The removal of fuel subsidies, once celebrated as a bold economic move, has driven the cost of transportation, food, and essential goods to unbearable levels. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that food inflation surged to 35.4% in February 2024, the highest in decades, yet government officials continue to tout economic growth that remains elusive to the common man.
Electricity tariffs have skyrocketed by over 200% in less than a year, plunging millions into darkness. The average Nigerian spends a significant portion of their income on alternative power sources, fueling a multi-billion naira generator economy while government officials enjoy uninterrupted power in their well-furnished mansions. The same citizens forced to endure these conditions have now adopted a dangerous coping mechanism—acceptance.
Beyond economic woes, insecurity continues to tighten its grip on the nation. Banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism remain persistent threats, with over 5,000 Nigerians reported killed in violent attacks in 2023 alone, according to data from the Council on Foreign Relations. Meanwhile, government officials allocate billions to security votes, yet the streets remain unsafe. The families of victims are often left to negotiate ransom payments with criminals while political leaders parade lavish security details that would make foreign dignitaries envious.
Yet, despite all these failings, the political class remains audacious in its excesses. Recently, Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brazenly declared that “not even God” can stop his father’s re-election in 2027. Such arrogance underscores the growing detachment between Nigeria’s rulers and the ruled. Even as citizens grapple with one of the worst economic crises in modern history, politicians are already scheming for the next election cycle, securing their futures while the average Nigerian is preoccupied with survival.
The Stockholm Syndrome gripping Nigeria’s political landscape is alarming. Many who suffer the most have become the loudest defenders of the very system that impoverishes them. Citizens celebrate politicians for handing out bags of rice as if they were doing them a favor, forgetting that these same leaders looted the resources that should have ensured their financial stability. The government constructs a few kilometers of road and is met with euphoric praise, while billions disappear into phantom projects. The masses, conditioned to expect so little, now worship mediocrity as progress.
At this rate, suffering in Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a national identity. A people who once held their leaders accountable now rationalize their oppression. The final stage of this adjustment is a complete embrace of misery—where Nigerians no longer see suffering as an injustice but as an essential part of their national experience. The question now is, how much more will the people endure before they realize that patriotism does not mean submission to endless hardship? When will the masses understand that suffering is not a virtue, and silence only emboldens the oppressors?
As history has shown, a populace conditioned to accept suffering is one that remains shackled. The ruling elite knows this all too well, and until Nigerians reject the normalization of hardship, the cycle will continue—one administration after another, one promise after another, and one betrayal after another.