By LUCY OGALUE

As the cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are into petty businesses to augment their incomes.

The residents said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Some of the residents who spoke to NAN include civil servants, teachers, bankers and healthcare workers among others.

The residents said that they had reduced leisure activities to create time for income-generating ventures

According to the residents, earnings from their primary jobs are no longer sufficient to meet rising expenses, including transportation, food, rent, school fees and utility bills.

For many of them, what began as a hubby or occasional venture had become an essential source of income.

Mrs Ekaite Obong, a civil servant, said she operated a mini shop at a plaza in her estate where she sold water, soft drinks and other beverages.

“I close from work by 4 p.m. and I head straight to my shop where I stay till about 7 p.m. every working day.

“It is stressful but I do not mind because the extra income helps me pay transport fares and buy groceries.

“Without this business, surviving on my salary alone will be difficult for me,” Obong said.

Another worker, Miss Anita Chikaodinaka, said weekends once reserved for rest and family had become business days.

Chikaodinaka said she worked as a civil servant from Mondays to Fridays but as a market woman at weekends.

“On Saturdays and even on Sundays, I normally sell fairly used wears for children (popularly known as okirika) at the Dutse Market.

“I was doing this business on Saturdays alone and in small quantity but now, I buy the full bails and sell in large quantities on Saturdays and Sundays.

“The business has its challenges but what can we do? We have to go on, because that extra income it brings, goes a long way for my family.

A teacher, Miss Blessing Ode, said she was forced to start making pastries and taking to work for sale, because of the harsh economic situation in the country.

“I used to bake cakes and pastries occasionally at weekends for family and friends’ consumption.

“Recently, I saw a need to get an additional source of income because my salary is barely enough to take care of my three children.

“So, now, I make pastries which I take to the school where I teach to sell during my break time, just to make extra income.

“Although, the money is not much, but it helps with some of my children’s school expenses,” she said.

Ode called on the government to relieve the pains of workers in the country, especially teachers by increasing their salaries and other allowances.

Ride-hailing services have also become a lifeline for some workers seeking additional income after official working hours.

Mr Sunday Okeh, a banker, told NAN that he started conveying passengers along the Kubwa–Area 1 axis after work hours to cushion the high cost of fuel.

“My salary can no longer cover basic needs for my family these days, and the cost of fuel is another major challenge.

“So I usually pick passengers from Area 1 to Kubwa after work and what I make helps me buy fuel and I also use part of it to support my family,” Okeh said.

An economist, Dr Gideon Maigida, said the growing dependence on multiple income streams reflected the pressure inflation had placed on household purchasing power.

“When wages remain relatively stagnant, while the cost of goods and services rises, households naturally seek additional sources of income to maintain their standard of living,” he said.

The economist noted that secondary sources of income had become a coping mechanism in many urban centres.

He said the trend underscored the need for sustained efforts to improve workers’ welfare and expand decent employment opportunities.

“Many workers are not pursuing side hustles because they want to. They are doing so because economic realities demand it,” he said.

A nurse, Mrs Hannah Udochi, warned that balancing full-time employment with additional businesses could affect workers’ physical and mental health.

“Working long hours without adequate rest increases the risk of stress, fatigue and burnout. Workers should also pay attention to their health.”

In spite the challenges, many residents said they remained optimistic that their businesses would eventually grow into sustainable enterprises.

Some expressed hope that improving economic conditions would ease pressure on household finances, allowing them to achieve a healthier work-life balance.

For now, however, many workers say the extra hours spent baking, driving, tutoring, trading or offering professional services are no longer optional but have become an important part of making ends meet. (NAN)

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