A woman who recently relocated from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria has expressed her frustration over the escalating cost of living in the country. Nkemdilim Melissa Okani took to Facebook to share her experience after 10 months of living in Nigeria, revealing how the rising prices have deeply affected her finances.
Unregulated prices shock returnee
Okani highlighted the lack of price regulation in Nigeria, questioning how costs can fluctuate so drastically. She wrote: “I moved back to Nigeria from the UK 10 months ago, and for the first time, the cost of living has really hit me! What do you mean prices are not regulated? So many factors can affect the cost of goods, and people just move on like it’s normal.”
Fuel costs skyrocket
One of the most striking examples she gave was the price of fuel. When she first arrived, she could fill her car tank weekly for ₦50,000. Now, she spends ₦85,000 every week on fuel. “Yes, you heard me right, #85k weekly. It’s ridiculous!” she exclaimed.
Food prices on the rise
Okani also detailed the sharp increase in food prices. A basket of tomatoes that used to cost ₦3,000 now sells for as much as ₦13,000. She managed to buy one for ₦9,000 after extensive bargaining. Shombo, a type of pepper, was ₦2,500 but now costs ₦17,000, leading her to forgo the purchase entirely. “How can something I bought for ₦7,000 just last week suddenly become ₦17,000 this week? How na?” she lamented.
Eggs have risen from ₦5,000 to ₦6,500, while a kilogram of beef increased from ₦7,000 to ₦8,500. A carton of turkey, which was ₦90,000, now goes for ₦110,000, even after pleading for a discount.
Struggling to manage finances
The woman admitted feeling ashamed to discuss her monthly expenses, as it makes her feel like she is not managing her money well. She said, “Sometimes, I look at what we’re spending and wonder where all the money is going. But with the way prices keep increasing, even a carefully planned budget can quickly go out the window.”
She concluded by asking, “So please tell me, how are people genuinely coping in this economy?”
