As Nigeria marks 66 years of Independence today, 1 October 2026, we need a new conversation about how government responds to the rising cost of living.
The choice should not be between doing nothing and spending billions on blanket subsidies whose benefits can be difficult to trace.
There is a better approach: put purchasing power directly in the hands of Nigerians who need support.
Government can establish a transparent, targeted Living Support Programme that provides time-bound cash assistance or digital vouchers to identified low-income and vulnerable households — helping families meet essential costs such as food, transport, education, healthcare and basic utilities.
Support Should be:
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Targeted at households most affected by rising living costs;
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Direct, with payments made to verified beneficiaries rather than subsidising everyone;
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Transparent, with clear eligibility criteria and public reporting;
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Time-bound and reviewable, so assistance responds to economic conditions rather than becoming an open-ended burden;
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Linked to opportunity, with pathways into jobs, skills, enterprise and productive activity.
This means moving:
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From subsidising products to supporting people
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From blanket subsidies to targeted living-cost support.
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From waste and leakage to transparency and accountability.
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From temporary relief to sustainable economic opportunity
Nigeria has the resources to support its citizens. The challenge is ensuring that public money reaches the people it is intended to help — efficiently, fairly and accountably.
66 years. A new conversation. A more direct way of supporting Nigerians.
Happy 66th Independence Anniversary, Nigeria.
