ADVOCATE SUNDAY DISCOURSE
By Tony Edike
As politicians prepare for 2027 election campaigns and the wealthy plan holidays abroad, millions of ordinary Nigerians are struggling to afford basic food items, pay transport fares and give their families a modest Christmas celebration. The season of joy is gradually becoming a season of anxiety for many households.
Christmas has always been one of the most anticipated seasons in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, where the celebration carries enormous religious, cultural and social significance.
It is traditionally a period of joy, reunion, generosity and thanksgiving. Families travel from cities to their ancestral communities, markets become crowded with shoppers, traders record increased sales, and homes are filled with preparations for the celebration. For many people, Christmas is not complete without new clothes, good food, family reunions and visits to loved ones.
However, as December approaches, the familiar excitement that usually characterises the Christmas season appears to be missing in many parts of the country.
The Calabar Christmas Carnival
Barely 40 days to Christmas, the usual rush by consumers to markets and shopping centres across the South-East to purchase food items, clothing and other necessities has yet to gain momentum. Traders who traditionally depend on the festive season to make substantial sales are expressing concerns over the apparent absence of customers.
For many households, the problem is not a lack of desire to celebrate Christmas. It is the inability to afford it.
Nigeria’s worsening economic difficulties, declining purchasing power, high food prices and the rising cost of petroleum products have combined to make ordinary living increasingly difficult. The consequences are evident in the daily struggles of families who must prioritise feeding, transportation, rent, school expenses and other essential obligations over festive celebrations.
Christmas Without the Usual Excitement
The economic realities confronting Nigerians have fundamentally changed how many families approach the Christmas season.
In previous years, the approach of December would trigger a noticeable increase in commercial activities. Markets would be crowded, traders would stock up their shops, transport operators would anticipate increased patronage, and families would begin making arrangements to travel home for the festivities.
Today, that familiar atmosphere appears subdued.
A Christmas Tree
Many traders in the South-East complain that customers are no longer purchasing goods in the quantities they used to. Some consumers who would ordinarily buy bags of rice, cartons of beverages, meat, cooking ingredients and new clothes are now struggling to afford even a fraction of their usual Christmas shopping.
The situation raises a fundamental question: What is Christmas without the purchasing power to celebrate it?
The reality is that economic hardship does not only affect the ability of citizens to feed themselves. It also takes away the little pleasures that make life meaningful, including the opportunity to celebrate important religious and family occasions.
For millions of Nigerians, Christmas is gradually becoming another reminder of their economic vulnerability.
The Decline of Village Christmas Celebrations
One of the most disturbing consequences of the economic situation is the gradual decline in the traditional movement of people from urban centres to their ancestral communities during Christmas.
In the South-East, Christmas is more than a religious celebration. It is a major cultural event that brings families, kindreds and entire communities together.
It is the period when sons and daughters return home to reconnect with their roots, visit elderly parents, participate in community activities, attend church services, settle family matters and contribute to the development of their villages.
But the rising cost of transportation is making this annual tradition increasingly difficult.
With the high cost of petroleum products translating into expensive transport fares, many families are reconsidering their journeys. A household that must spend a substantial amount transporting itself to the village and back may simply decide to remain in the city.
For families with several children, the financial burden is even greater.
The implication goes beyond reduced travel. It affects rural commerce, community activities, family relationships and the cultural traditions that have sustained the Igbo people for generations.
When people cannot afford to travel home for Christmas, village markets, local transport operators, food vendors and small businesses also lose an important source of seasonal income.
The economic hardship is therefore not just reducing the size of Christmas celebrations; it is gradually weakening an important social and cultural tradition.
2027 Politics and the Question of Priorities
Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of the present situation is the apparent contrast between the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians and the increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Already, political calculations, alignments, consultations and campaign preparations are occupying the attention of many political actors.
Huge resources are expected to be committed to political mobilisation, publicity, political meetings, travels and other activities as the election season gathers momentum.
There is nothing inherently wrong with political participation or preparations for elections. Elections are an essential component of democracy.
However, the question Nigerians should be asking is whether the welfare of citizens is receiving the same level of attention and commitment as political ambitions.
At a time when families are struggling to put food on their tables, unemployed youths are searching desperately for opportunities, small businesses are battling rising operational costs and traders are recording disappointing sales, the welfare of ordinary citizens should remain a central concern of political leadership.
Political ambition should not overshadow the responsibility of governance.
The ultimate purpose of occupying public office is to improve the living conditions of the people. Political leaders must therefore demonstrate that their concern for citizens extends beyond election seasons and campaign promises.
A society in which political activities flourish while ordinary citizens struggle to afford basic necessities must urgently reconsider its priorities.
A Christmas of Contrasting Realities
There is also an uncomfortable contrast between the experiences of different categories of Nigerians during this festive period.
While some wealthy Nigerians, politicians and public office holders may be making arrangements for holidays abroad, expensive celebrations and luxurious lifestyles, millions of less privileged citizens are wondering where their next meal will come from.
For some families, the greatest Christmas expectation is not a holiday trip, new clothes or an elaborate celebration. It is simply the ability to secure a bag of rice, cooking oil and other basic food items to feed their children.
Some parents are already worried about how to meet the expectations of their children, who may not fully understand why Christmas cannot be celebrated as it was in previous years.
There are families who may have to explain to their children why there will be no new clothes, special meals or journeys to the village this year.
There are also elderly citizens who depend on the support of their children and relatives but may receive little or nothing because those expected to provide assistance are themselves struggling economically.
This is the human face of the economic crisis, and it should not be ignored.
The Moral Responsibility of the Wealthy
Christmas represents the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, whose teachings emphasise love, compassion, sacrifice, humility and concern for the less privileged.
It is therefore important that the season should not be reduced to expensive celebrations, entertainment and displays of wealth.
Those who have the means to celebrate should remember those who cannot afford the basic necessities of life.
Wealthy Nigerians, business leaders, politicians, public office holders, religious organisations and corporate institutions have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of struggling families.
A bag of rice, food supplies, financial assistance, medical support or payment of school fees for a disadvantaged child may mean more to a struggling household than an elaborate Christmas party.
Politicians, in particular, should understand that their responsibilities to the people are not limited to election campaigns.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on political mobilisation and the enormous expenses associated with electioneering, political leaders should also consider supporting genuine welfare initiatives that will bring relief to vulnerable households.
Governors, lawmakers, local government chairmen and other public office holders should make targeted interventions to support indigent families, unemployed youths, widows, elderly citizens and people living with disabilities.
Such interventions should be transparent, properly organised and focused on those who genuinely need assistance.
Corporate organisations and wealthy individuals should also consider community-based Christmas support programmes, especially in rural communities where poverty and limited economic opportunities are particularly challenging.
Government Must Address the Root Causes
While charitable interventions can provide temporary relief, they cannot replace the need for sustainable economic policies.
Nigeria cannot continue to depend on seasonal donations and food distribution to address a crisis that requires fundamental economic solutions.
The government at all levels must intensify efforts to reduce the cost of living, improve food production, strengthen local manufacturing, create employment opportunities and support small businesses.
The cost of transporting goods and people must also receive serious attention. The impact of high petroleum prices on transportation, agricultural production, distribution and general commercial activities is too significant to ignore.
Government policies must translate into measurable improvements in the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
Economic growth should not be measured only by official statistics, investment announcements or government revenue figures. It should also be reflected in the ability of an average family to afford food, pay school fees, access healthcare and meet basic household needs without living in constant anxiety.
The real test of economic recovery is whether ordinary citizens can feel the difference in their daily lives.
Christmas Should Not Become a Luxury
As the countdown to Christmas continues, the reality confronting Nigeria is deeply concerning.
A country where millions of people cannot afford to celebrate one of the most important religious festivals because of economic hardship must pay serious attention to the condition of its citizens.
Christmas should not become a luxury reserved for the wealthy.
The ability to put food on the table, purchase modest clothing for children and travel to see loved ones should not be an extraordinary privilege.
For Christians, Christmas is a season of hope and the celebration of God’s gift to humanity. Even in difficult circumstances, the message of love, generosity and compassion must remain alive.
But hope must also be accompanied by responsibility, particularly from those entrusted with public resources and those who have accumulated wealth in society.
Our Position
The Advocate believes that the approaching Christmas should serve as a moment of reflection for Nigeria’s political leaders, wealthy citizens, business organisations and religious institutions.
At a time when political actors are increasingly looking towards the 2027 general elections, the suffering of ordinary Nigerians must not be pushed to the background.
The welfare of citizens should be more important than political calculations. The dignity of the poor should matter as much as the comfort of the privileged.
We call on political leaders, public office holders, wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to remember the less privileged during this festive season.
Let this Christmas be an opportunity to demonstrate genuine compassion, not merely through speeches and public appearances, but through practical acts of kindness that can put food on the tables of struggling families.
A politician who can spend millions of naira on political activities should also be concerned about the hungry families within his constituency.
A wealthy individual who can afford an expensive holiday abroad should remember the elderly neighbour, the struggling widow and the unemployed young man who may not have enough to celebrate Christmas.
Beyond individual generosity, government must intensify efforts to address the economic conditions responsible for the present hardship.
Ultimately, the true spirit of Christmas is not measured by the price of the clothes we wear, the quantity of food on our tables or the destinations of our holiday travels. It is measured by the love we show, the lives we touch and the sacrifices we make for others.
Nigeria must not allow economic hardship to extinguish the joy, hope and humanity that Christmas represents.
For millions of struggling Nigerians, the greatest Christmas gift this year may simply be a decent meal, a little financial relief and the assurance that they have not been forgotten.
That is the spirit of Christmas we must collectively restore.
