It′s a general struggle

Cooking that stew was like a win, and stepping out to buy bread was the finishing thing. My friend and I had eaten noodles earlier, and while I tried to convince him to stay and eat the stew, he refused. He said it was already late and with Sunday coming, he couldn’t hang around. I didn’t push too much. At least he wasn’t leaving on an empty stomach.

On the way to get the bread, we saw a rat struggling for its life in some really dirty water. It was swimming like crazy, but it was clear the poor thing wasn’t going to make it. We stopped for a bit to watch, and I told my friend, “This rat is done for, no hope at all.” He nodded and then said something that got me thinking.

He said, “That rat is just like all of us in Nigeria right now, struggling to survive in a mess we didn’t even create.” We both laughed, but his words hit deep. It’s true that life here feels like a never-ending hustle with no guarantees. Even when we laugh, it’s like we’re just hiding the weight of everything we deal with daily.

By the time we got the bread, his words still stayed with me. Nigeria is in a tough spot right now, and it’s not just about politics or money, it’s about everyday survival. Some days, we’re just like that rat, trying to stay afloat, hoping we don’t sink further into the mess. It’s a lot to process when you think about it.

After I escorted my friend home, I headed back to enjoy my stew with the bread. But deep down, I couldn’t stop thinking about his words. Just like the rat might find a way out somehow, I hope we all do too. Survival might be hard, but as Nigerians, we’ve learned to keep pushing no matter what.