Independence Day in Nigeria is only two days away on Sunday 1 October, with a public holiday on Monday to mark the country’s 63rd anniversary of its alleged independence from Britain.
The German public service broadcaster, DW, had their reporter Flourish Ubanyi testing the mood in Lagos as the day approaches, and it was mainly a tale of woe. Ubanyi said the past few months have been tough for Nigerians as the price of fuel tripled following the new administration of President Bola Tinubu’s removal of a subsidy on petroleum. This has had a knock-on effect on inflation and the economy.
Watch the video here.
Opinions ranged from there being nothing to celebrate and nothing to be proud of, to a guy who said “everything is going backwards”. A bus driver complained that his pay was not even enough for him, let alone his family.
Ubanyi reported that worsening inflation, weak security, and rising unemployment meant that those with the means were leaving the country in their droves.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has not returned to Nigeria since he was last seen in New York for the United Nations General Assembly about six days ago. No official announcement has been made about his whereabouts, but it is rumoured that he is holed up in France. Images have been circulated on social media of the presidential jet parked at a Paris airport. It remains to be seen whether Tinubu returns to Nigeria for the lowkey Independence Day celebration he has called for.
