There was a time Nigeria walked with the confident swagger of a giant — chest out, agbada flowing, and an economy that didn’t need to borrow pocket money from the IMF just to buy pure water. But that era is now in the museum, somewhere between Nok terracotta and NEPA’s customer service. In today’s Nigeria, poverty is not just a social problem; it has been upgraded to a strategic political tool, polished and sharpened like a ceremonial sword at a coronation.
The political elite — and the APC leadership in particular — have perfected the art of weaponising poverty with the precision of Switzerland and the shamelessness of a Nollywood villain who laughs before explaining his evil plan. They didn’t just impoverish the masses; no, that would be too ordinary. They improvised the masses — like a musician tuning a broken guitar. They’ve fine-tuned hunger to the point that even the national character has gone on sabbatical leave.
Integrity for Sale: One Cup of Garri, Negotiable
In today’s Nigeria, the average citizen is one bounced bank alert away from becoming a philosopher. Integrity has become a luxury item, like iPhones, Teslas, or electricity. Every day, millions queue not for fuel, but for a chance to display their lack of options.
And the elite know it. Oh, they absolutely know it.
They’ve created a system so financially suffocating that Nigerians now speak in economic terms only understood by accountants and kidnappers:
“What’s the price of loyalty?” “How much is your conscience per month?” “Do you want to join this movement? We have small rice.”
When a nation becomes so economically battered that even hope is bought on credit, everyone becomes beholden — like tenants who owe months of rent to landlords who can’t pronounce “leniency.”
Impunity: The Only Industry Still Thriving
While the economy groans like a generator with malaria, one sector has recorded unprecedented growth: IMPUNITY INC.™
With financial stagnation pushing citizens to desperation, the ruling class now operates with the confidence of a police checkpoint at night. They behave like they bought Nigeria on Jumia Black Friday and the return policy has expired.
Policies are made not for the people, but for the pockets behind the people. Laws are optional. Accountability is “coming soon” like PHCN light. And every government spokesperson speaks with the calm boldness of someone who knows Nigerians can’t afford to be angry for more than 45 seconds because anger burns calories.
Political Dividends: The Hunger Investment Scheme
The new political strategy is simple:
Impoverish the people. Make them desperate. Arrive during election season with sachet rice and the energy of Father Christmas. Collect votes. Repeat.
It is the biggest pyramid scheme on the continent, except everyone knows the pyramid is sitting on quicksand.
And now—having mastered the economy of deprivation—the elite are cashing in. Their deliberate policy of keeping people poor has become a political asset. Poverty is the new “grassroots mobilisation.” Hunger is the new “manifesto.” And suffering is the new “shared prosperity.”
The Wall Nigerians Are Being Pushed Toward
There is only so far a people can be pushed before something gives. Nigerians have endured everything:
Dollar rising like it’s training for the Olympics Food prices studying aviation Fuel scarcity making people walk with spiritual motivation Cash scarcity turning people into amateur archaeologists digging through every old bag for forgotten notes
Yet somehow, the political elite behave like the Nigerian people are made of rubber — stretchable, bendable, elastic, and incapable of snapping.
But history disagrees.
When you push a people to the edge long enough, they don’t fall — they turn around.
And the consequences of that turn?
Let’s just say they are better imagined than experienced.
Final Thoughts
Nigeria has survived coups, corruptions, confusions, and comedians in political office. But this particular season of “Weaponised Poverty: The APC Chronicles” is testing even our legendary resilience.
Still, one thing remains true: Nigerians always find humour in tragedy — because if we don’t laugh, we will start calculating the price of relocating to Ghana like it’s NECO mathematics.
And trust me, nobody wants that trauma.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 