Nigeria is engulfed in a socio-economic maelstrom where poverty and hunger are not merely economic challenges but deep stressors undermining both individual stability and national cohesion. According to the United Nations, more than 26 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity in 2025, a crisis deepening the psychological burden of survival in Africa’s most populous nation. “We are not only hungry,” said Lagos street vendor Ibrahim Ahmed, “we are living each day with fear, anxiety, and exhaustion.”
Stress, in its simplest definition, is the body and mind’s response to overwhelming pressures or perceived threats. It manifests physically through fatigue, headaches, and sleeplessness, while psychologically it induces anxiety, despair, and in extreme cases, suicidal ideation. In societies plagued by chronic poverty, stress assumes an insidious form—sapping human creativity, fracturing social bonds, and eroding resilience. As the World Health Organization explains, “Stress becomes toxic when individuals feel they have little or no control over their circumstances.”
The Nigerian economic reality intensifies this toxic cycle. Inflation remains above 30 percent, wages stagnate, and the national currency continues to depreciate. Food, which should be the most basic human right, has become a luxury. A bag of rice now costs more than many families earn in a week. This economic dissonance creates not only hunger but also psychological paralysis. “I spend the entire night thinking of how to provide food for my children,” confessed Kano-based widow Fatima Sani, “and by morning I am too exhausted to work.”
Medical experts warn that prolonged exposure to poverty-induced stress is catastrophic. It heightens the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and compromised immune systems. Dr. Aisha Lawal, a psychiatrist in Abuja, observed: “The prevalence of anxiety and depression has reached epidemic levels. Poverty is no longer just an economic term—it is now a public health emergency.” Her analysis reflects an urgent need to reframe poverty not only as an issue of governance but as a determinant of national health.
Managing stress in such a hostile climate requires both structural reforms and personal resilience strategies. On a macro level, experts argue for urgent investment in food security, job creation, and inflation control. On an individual level, psychologists recommend simple but effective coping mechanisms: regular exercise, deep-breathing routines, social support systems, and time management. According to the Nigerian Psychological Association, “Community-based peer groups, even informal ones, significantly reduce feelings of isolation and help individuals build coping capacity.”
Beyond individual strategies, societal solidarity has emerged as a powerful antidote. In rural and urban neighborhoods alike, communities are sharing resources through cooperative farming, food banks, and grassroots welfare networks. “We cannot wait for the government,” said Enugu-based teacher Chukwuma Okeke. “When a neighbor has no food, we contribute from our little to ensure no one sleeps hungry.” These collective actions, though modest, help buffer the psychological effects of scarcity.
Ultimately, the battle against stress in Nigeria’s present calamity lies at the intersection of governance, health, and social cohesion. Stress may be inevitable, but its management is contingent on leadership that secures economic stability and citizens who harness resilience in the face of adversity. For now, Nigerians tread the thin line between endurance and breakdown, clutching onto hope that tomorrow will bring not just bread for the body but also calm for the mind.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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