HumAngle Staff Vs Nigeria’s Killer Inflation: Who’s Winning?

Only a decade ago, Nigeria’s average annual inflation rate was 8.3 per cent. Now, it is 33.2 per cent (which is exactly the original number multiplied by four). As you can imagine, this has had a devastating impact on everyone. Amratullah Kazir asked the folks at HumAngle how they were coping.

Once upon a time at the HumAngle office after the inverter ran out of juice and employees huddled together, wondering if HR would announce an early closing time. Power was restored soon after, thus — as some would argue — dashing their hopes. Photo by: ‘Kunle Adebajo.

The rise in the cost of living has had a damning ripple effect on the daily lives of most Nigerians, leading me to wonder, “How has inflation affected the staff at HumAngle?” I spoke to some of them about their personal experiences, and this is what they had to say.

Sabiqah Bello, a multimedia reporter, said the prices on Bolt, an e-hailing app, have become ridiculous.

“I used to be able to go home with ₦500, but this morning, when I came to work, I paid ₦2,500. And I live less than 10 minutes away,” she noted with slight discontent.

Fareed Ibrahim, who is interning at HumAngle Foundation, said he has had to significantly cut down some of his lifestyle choices. “All I think about now is how to find stability in terms of transportation,” he explained.

He adds that the general cost of living has become unfavourable.

“The cost of food and now the electricity tariff, it’s a lot of financial impact,” he said before playfully quipping, “God dey.”

Nabila Gidado — also a Foundation employee — being the madam that she is, casually informed me that nothing had quite changed for her despite the general hike in prices. (I want to be like her when I grow up.)

Senior illustrator Akila Jibrin said that inflation affected him in so many ways.

“The cost of fuelling my car has skyrocketed. A journey from here to Maiduguri used to cost me just ₦30,000, but now it would cost me almost ₦100,000 per trip. I spend close to ₦200,000, which is almost the cost of booking flights.”

He also pointed out that the cost of feeding had drastically changed.

I posed the same question to Shade Mary-Ann Olaoye, the audience engagement specialist, who needed a minute to think about her woes.

“I don’t like the fact that I can no longer go out to eat, I like going out to eat,” she said, underscoring the fact that one of her biggest grudges with the inflation was that it was negatively affecting her ‘soft life’.

“You just want to go on a girls’ date and eat creamy pasta, with Alfredo by the side.”

She said that inflation had also affected her social welfare, as she wasn’t able to send money to her loved ones as often anymore.

“I can’t buy clothes again, I can’t buy shoes … these Nikes have increased by like 20 per cent,” she lamented further. “And for some reason, I think inflation has affected the cost of data … it doesn’t last as long as it used to.”

Check on Shade when you’re done reading this; she is going through a lot!

Some of the humans of HumAngle featured in this article. L-R (top): Shade, Eucharia, Seun. L-R (bottom): Nabila, Fareed, Saduwo. Photos by: Amrah Kazir.

Finance manager Eucharia Okechukwu gave me some professional insight as well as how she has been affected.

“Inflation, as we know, is a recent increase in the price of goods and services, and although it has been there since this government entered, it has been alarming.”

She exclaimed, “The prices of things are not smiling! We’re just living by the grace of God. So, it has affected us badly.” She smiled as she spoke, exuding positive energy as is characteristic of her, despite the reality of her words.

Growth advisor Faridha Salihu-Lukman (FSL) said the economic downturn has affected her just like everyone else. She explained that the house help normally handles market runs but she now has to go to the market herself to research what the latest prices are because she information she got often baffled her.

“I know things have gone up, but it can’t possibly be this bad,” she thought.

“You can’t but wonder how people who make below minimum wage are able to cope.”

Another prominent problem is the price of fuel.

“It is neck-cutting. It wants to kill me!” cried multimedia reporter Seun (née Adebowale). “The price of protein as well — chicken and beef — I can’t deal. Buying food outside as well. Food from Chicken Republic that used to be ₦2,000/₦3,000 is now ₦5000 plus!”

Once you’re done checking on Shade, please check on Seun. Crazy things are happening!

Despite their individual experiences with the hike in food, fuel and overall lifestyle prices, it seems the staff of HumAngle have so far embraced these changes with a positive attitude.

Edited by: ‘Kunle Adebajo.

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