We’re in Trouble! Distinguished Professor Raises Alarm on Nigeria

Matilda Omonaiye/

A Nigerian distinguished professor of law and former dean of faculty of law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Joy Ezeilo, has lamented the worsening economic conditions in the country.

Ezeilo, who is a holder of the National award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), expressed her frustration with the economic woes Nigerians, including herself, contend with daily in a series of tweets via personal handle, @NgoziEzeilo, yesterday.

Ezeilo, who is also a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, lamented that her salary, as one of the most best paid professors in her university, could no longer sustain her till the end of each month, after spending 40 percent on fuelling her vehicle alone.

Affirming that Nigeria is indeed in “troubled waters” economically, she tweeted:

“Which way is Nigeria headed? I bought 50 litres of diesel for my car at the cost of N40,000 in Enugu.  I’m wondering how we will all survive this hardship.

“As a Law Professor that has reached the last step and stage in promotion at a Federal University, I’m paid about 400k per Month after taxes so if I spend forty thousand conservatively for fuelling my car on a weekly basis that’s if I remain within my city times that by at least 200 litres per Month it means 40 percent of my salary in fuelling.

“What about other utilities, electricity, water, rent, food, children’s school fees, medical, phone and internet etc. Cooking gas is up by over 200 percent? Do we resort to firewood?

“World Bank’s prediction that millions of Nigerians would be driven to the poverty level is real . We’re in troubled waters with crippling inflation!”