Three Years of "Renewed Hope": Nigerians Turn to Trekking, Urban Farming, and Meal Rationing to Survive Historic Cost-of-Living Crisis

From trekking to meal rationing, Nigerians are adopting extreme survival strategies as the 2026 inflation rate hits 15.38% under President Tinubu’s reforms.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Business Hallmark

The "Renewed Hope" Turning Point

The administration of President Bola Tinubu, initially marketed under the "Renewed Hope" mantra, has reached a critical inflection point in 2026. While the presidency was anticipated to be an elixir for the hardships of the previous decade, the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies and the liberalization of the exchange rate have instead triggered a severe inflationary surge. For the first time in 12 months, headline inflation rose to 15.38% in March 2026, marking a reversal of a year-long decline and pushing millions deeper into multi-dimensional poverty.

The Trekking and Public Transport Shift

High fuel prices, which have seen petrol jump from under ₦900 to over ₦1,350 per litre due to global energy pressures and local subsidy removal, have fundamentally changed how Nigerians commute. Many middle-class professionals have abandoned their personal vehicles for shorter distances, opting to walk or use public transport to save on fueling costs. One resident reported spending over ₦70,000 weekly just to fuel a car for work, leading many to "carry passengers" for fees to recoup expenses—a practice previously reserved for professional commercial drivers.

Education and the Public School Influx

The economic strain has forced a significant demographic shift in the education sector. Faced with skyrocketing tuition fees as private schools struggle to stay afloat, many parents have withdrawn their children and enrolled them in public schools. Families report that term fees for three children can now exceed ₦500,000, an impossible sum for civil servants and petty traders whose salaries have not kept pace with the ₦70,000 minimum wage. This migration to the public sector is placing renewed pressure on state-funded infrastructure.