#30DaysRantChallenge: When The Cost Of Living Chokes The Living

Chinalurumogu EzeMarch 17, 20253 Mins read86

Image credit: Endsars protest from Unspalsh

How do you survive when survival itself is a luxury? In Nigeria today, living isn’t just expensive; it’s exhausting. The price of everything has skyrocketed, and what used to be basic necessities now feel like privileges. A crate of eggs costs as much as a small fortune. Electricity bills drain wallets faster than power homes. Even the simple joys of life – books, movies, a day at the park, all have become out of reach. The cost of living is killing the living in Nigeria.

This harsh reality pushed Nigerian TikToker Raye to make a video where she was overwhelmed by the absurd cost of everyday items. In the video, she called out the ridiculous prices of things in Nigeria, the NYSC allawee that doesn’t cover so much and the Nigerian President, who she described as “terrible.” She broke down in tears while at it. Her frustration was raw and unfiltered, and it resonated deeply. Within hours, the video exploded across social media, sparking a nationwide conversation about the unbearable cost of living.

Identified as Ushie Rita Uguamaye, her words struck a nerve. The video spread like wildfire, racking up millions of views on TikTok and setting X ablaze. But, as expected, not everyone wanted to hear the truth. Some pea-brained Nigerians called for Raye’s arrest and called her truth lies. The NYSC even pressured her to take the video down.

The crisis has caught the attention of political figures. Labour Party’s Peter Obi weighed in, warning that “a government that silences its citizens is not democratic. A just and prosperous Nigeria should be one where people like Raye are encouraged to speak out while government officials take urgent action to address these issues.”

Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, praised Raye’s courage, saying she “embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere.”

Well-meaning Nigerians capitalized on the issue to rally around Raye and launch the #30DaysRantChallenge, a wave of daily rants exposing just how unlivable the country had become. And the stories? Heartbreaking.

The electricity bill stories are crazier. X user Ugegbe tweeted that ₦10,000 only gives 44 units of electricity now. “It was 142 units in January! LMAO.” Another person revealed that “we’re forced to switch off EVERYTHING by 6 am and turn it back on at 8 pm, and still, our units don’t last till the end of the week.” Dolapo even confessed, “I sleep with my AC remote beside me. I don’t use a duvet anymore, so the cold can quickly set in. Once I’m cold enough, I put off the AC. That’s how I’ve been managing my electricity units.”

But it’s not just power bills draining people’s wallets. It’s everything. “Transportation is now expensive. I earn ₦12,000 weekly and spend ₦5,000 on transport alone,” Henry lamented under the #30DaysRantChallenge. Akubue-Izundu Ifeoma reflected on the insane inflation over the past few years: “When I got admission into UNN in 2021, transport from Awka to Nsukka was ₦1,500. Now, as I graduate, it costs ₦6,500. My luggage alone was ₦6,000! I used to cook jollof with carrots and green beans, but now ₦500 worth of carrots is invisible in my food.”

Basic healthcare is out of reach for many. “A child died because they couldn’t remove groundnut from his lungs,” someone shared. “A simple bronchoscope could have saved his life. Guess how much a bronchoscope costs? $1,600! Nigeria is a criminal state.” Our leaders have more money for trips than healthcare. Even menstruation feels like a punishment. “Nobody is talking about the price of sanitary pads,” Gift Okoro ranted. “And they even reduced the quantity. Like, should we stop menstruating?”

And let’s talk about data because what’s survival without staying connected? To talk about data is to speak about extortion. Not long ago, MTN published a gutter apology for the increase in data plans. “I used to buy 40GB for ₦10,000 twice a month,” Deborah Adewale sighed. “Now I buy 100GB for ₦20,000, which doesn’t last three weeks. I can’t scroll through TikTok in peace.”

“Before I subscribe for data, I’ll just look through the available bundles for 15 minutes before settling for what looks manageable,” Enwerem Chinenye lamented. “The fact that I have to spend more on data bundles that hardly work is frustrating. I can’t keep up with how much I spend on data because it keeps getting exhausting, and it’s not like I’m a heavy data user or anything,” Confidence Ubani weighed in.

Even those earning “decent” salaries are barely hanging on. “I earn ₦300,000 per month, and it still doesn’t cut it,” Remiel Godwin admitted. “I cried on my way to work two days ago. I filled my tank with ₦80,000. It won’t even last a week. I have siblings and family relying on me. It’s exhausting.”

The question now is, how much more can Nigerians take? People are working harder, earning more, yet affording less. Basic survival has become a daily battle, and frustration is boiling over. But will those in power actually listen beyond the rants and viral videos? Will they act before the country reaches a breaking point? Because at this rate, Nigerians aren’t just struggling to live. They’re fighting not to disappear under the crushing weight of an economy that no longer works for them.