The year 2024 is about to end and many Nigerians are already looking forward to better days in 2025. Already churches have started putting advert placements for the 31st night to continue the usual tradition where many Nigerian Christians gather to sing, dance and engage in fervent prayers for the new year to favour them.
What about the Christmas carols and concerts? They are everywhere across the country. Beneath the festivities lies the fact that Nigerians saw shege this year, with pessimists believing shege pro max continues next year no matter how much anyone kabashes.
Anyway, there is still a lot to be thankful for, especially as we look back to problems Nigerians had to survive in 2024. Therefore, sit back, grab your popcorn and read the top 11 serious problems that Nigerians survived in 2024.
11 serious problems Nigerians survived in 2024
1. Hunger and poverty
This one is the oga patapata of them all. Poverty has been part of Nigeria’s woeful stories from time immemorial. But most would argue that 2024 is the worst yet. The reasons is not farfetched – economic problems which have seen foreign multinationals leave the country, indigenous businesses collapsing, farmers refusing to go to their farms out of fear of bandits and many others. In a heavily dollarised economy, many Nigerians can no longer afford many essential items because the naira keeps depreciating against the dollar. This means more Nigerians are plunged into poverty and battling extreme hunger.
2. Insecurity
As it stands, all six regions of Nigeria are battling several security issues such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings, armed robbery, among others. Many Nigerians feel unsafe moving outside during certain hours of the day. Even the upper class are affected, despite intentional measures to secure their environment. Yet, news of people getting kidnapped, raped and killed seem to spread everyday. And you wonder why the rich are the ones japaing from the country more than the poor.
3. National grid collapse
The national grid collapse has now become an anthem in Nigeria. The country has witnessed 12 collapses this year, the most recent being on Wednesday December 11. This proves the fact that the Nigerian power sector is in shambles. Based on past reputations of government officials, it will take a long, long time to fix this sector.
4. Labour Union strike
On 31 May 2024, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on an indefinite general strike after they failed to reach an agreement with the federal government to increase the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦494,000. Hospitals, schools, government agencies, airports and banks were shut down, leading to a collapse of normal activities in Nigeria. Many air travelers were stranded and many patients could not be treated.
The FG was forced to call for another negotiation when they agreed to increase the minimum wage to ₦70,000, subject to a minimum wage review every three years. The strike was eventually called off in June but it was an extraordinarily tough period to live in Nigeria at the time.
5. Subsidy removal
On May 29, 2023, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy in his inauguration speech. Since then, Nigeria has never remained the same. Fuel prices have increased astronomically it is a surprise there are still vehicles plying the roads. Although alternative fuels like the CNG have been introduced, many Nigerians still prefer the fossil fuels.
Even the Dangote refinery, which many Nigerians thought would bring competition and reduce the price of fuel, has not worked as expected.
6. ASUU strike
Year 2023 was one of the worst years for Nigerian students in the public tertiary institutions as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a nationwide strike that lasted for almost a year. In 2024, ASUU threatened another indefinite strike action after the union accused the federal government of non-payment of salaries, among other issues. Some universities have already carried out their threat while others have decided to wait.
7. End bad governance protests

The end bad governance protests popularly known as #EndBadGovernance Movement or “Hunger Protest” began on August 1 and ended on August 10. Like the 2020 #Endsars protests, the #EndBadGovernance protest was triggered by the bad economy, corruption and insecurity that have led to hunger, anger, and poverty across the nation. During the protest, many lives were lost, especially in the Northern States, including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and the FCT.
Although the President later addressed the nation, there are many who believe the protests did not achieve the expected results.
8. Healthcare crisis
Nigeria’s health sector was especially hit after the japa wave that has seen many doctors and other health workers leave the country for greener pastures abroad. The result is the healthcare sector is facing unprecedented crisis due to shortage of workers, inadequate infrastructure, and economic crisis. There are only 1.83 healthcare providers per 1,000 people, which is less than WHO’s recommended 4.45. Nigeria’s healthcare crisis have led to strike actions by doctors and nurses. It is an ongoing problem, but somehow Nigerians have survived.
9. Hike in food prices
Nigeria currently battles food crisis. Essential food items like rice, tomatoes, yam, onions and even pepper are barely affordable to many living in Nigeria. Even protein like beef, fish and chicken are becoming foods for the rich. Christmas is coming and many have projected that food prices will rise again. Somehow, Nigerians will survive this one.
10. Hike in transportation fares

If you think food is expensive, what do you think about transportation? It is difficult to travel from one area to another without spending some serious money, thanks to the subsidy removal. Air travel has become exclusively for the rich who have to cough out hundreds of thousands of naira for a 45-minute flight. Those travelling abroad will cough out millions for tickets alone. Many Nigerians say it is difficult to live in Nigeria and even more difficult to leave Nigeria.
11. Unemployment
The exit of multinationals and collapse of local businesses have led to a massive rise of unemployment rates in Nigeria. Most of those who still have jobs are underemployed, which takes us to the first point – there is hunger in the land.
Overall, things are hard but Nigerians have managed to survive and will continue to survive these challenges in 2025.
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