Imagine waking up to discover that the very tools you rely on to run your business — WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook — have been restricted overnight. Your customers can’t reach you. Your adverts vanish. Your sales channels go silent.
This is not fiction. It is what happened recently in Nepal, where protests erupted after sudden government restrictions, corruption scandals, and broken promises pushed young people onto the streets. Businesses were forced to shut down. Supply chains froze. The economy shook.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Nigeria is not immune. When politics shifts suddenly, small businesses like yours are always the first to feel the impact.
Why Entrepreneurs Must Pay Attention
We often like to say, “I’m not into politics, I just want to run my business.” But politics is already inside your shop, your office, your hustle.
Think about it. When subsidy was removed, you paid more for fuel immediately. When the naira was floated, your suppliers changed their prices before you even had time to reprint your price list. When VAT was increased, you didn’t need a newspaper to explain it — you felt it in your profit margins.
What happened in Nepal is a reminder that politics and policy are not background noise. They are business risks. And if you are not watching closely, you could be caught off guard.
Keeping Abreast of Change
The first step to protecting yourself is awareness. Too many Nigerian entrepreneurs only notice a new law or policy after it has already started hurting their business. By then, it’s often too late to adjust.
Don’t wait until a policy goes viral on Twitter before you pay attention. Create a simple system for yourself:
- Scan business news at least once a week.
- Pay attention during budget announcements — they often hide clues about coming changes.
- Join a trade association, cooperative, or chamber of commerce in your industry. These groups usually hear whispers of policy shifts before the public does.
Awareness is not just about information. It’s about time. Time to adjust prices before customers complain. Time to talk to suppliers before they shock you. Time to prepare your team before panic sets in. And in business, time is survival.
Planning for the “What Ifs”
The second step is preparation. And this is where many entrepreneurs struggle. We are so focused on daily survival that we rarely think about tomorrow’s storms. But resilience is built before the crisis, not during it.
This is where scenario planning comes in. Sit with your team — or even by yourself with a notebook — and ask the tough questions:
- What if fuel climbs to ₦1,500 per litre?
- What if the exchange rate jumps overnight?
- What if WhatsApp, Instagram, or another key platform is suddenly restricted?
- What if a new tax is introduced in your sector?
Don’t just think about these questions. Write them down. Then write your response.
If fuel skyrockets, will you raise prices, cut delivery zones, or look for pooled transport solutions?
If FX jumps, will you switch to local suppliers or adjust your inventory strategy?
If your favourite social media app is blocked, what backup channel will you use to reach customers?
It may feel unnecessary now, but when change comes — and in Nigeria, it always comes — you’ll be glad you have a playbook instead of panic.
Final Word
The protests in Nepal show us how quickly politics can spill into the marketplace. For entrepreneurs, the lesson is clear: don’t just hope policies remain stable. Prepare for the possibility that they won’t.
Because when governments act and the streets react, it is SMEs that get squeezed first.
So let me ask you: if a major policy was announced tomorrow morning, would your business be ready with a plan — or would you be left scrambling?
