Victor Awotubo, a student of english and literary studies in the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, would usually love to make a soft meal before going for his lectures by 8:00 am everyday. This meal, according to him, is to help sustain his hunger as some of his classes, in his words, ‘might be exhausting and not give time for a break’.

The 300 level student has, however, learnt to re-adjust his eating culture after the prices of foodstuff began to increase in the market.

“I mean, I used to buy big corn flakes for N1,300; it is now N1,900. I used to get custard for N900, now it’s N1,200. I used to get a carton of noodles for N1,900 and now it is N3,200 or N3,100.”

The increase has made Awotubo ration his meal or suspend eating in the morning before his classes.

“A few days ago, I wanted to buy a carton of indomie. The salesperson said it was N3200 and I was so shocked. The last time I got it, I got it for about N1900. So how did it inflate to that price?”, he recounted his ordeal to this reporter.

“I am a lover of noodles, but I was unable to get it for that price because I am a student and I am just trying to scale through the academic system here in Nigeria. Things are getting expensive by the day and no one is talking about it, and that is what makes it appalling.

“I can not remember the last time I filled my 3kg cylinder to the bream. On a normal day, I fill 3kg for N1000. But now 3kg is around N2300. Now I have to go to the option of filling N1000, sometimes, I just fill N750 (1kg) – and when you buy in bits it does not last. I would love to buy things in bulk but for the past few months, I have been unable to buy things in bulk.”

Awotubo’s roommate, Tobi Adeniyi, is not exempted from this harsh reality, as he has found other alternatives in getting by with the prices of things.

“The same goes with my roommate, my roommate is a lover of tea. Now he has to go with the option of drinking Lipton. He loves Hollandia milk, he loves milo. But the prices of those things are outrageous. There are no things you can afford if you are not working or making a good source of income. So, he has to go with the option of drinking top tea or Lipton.

“We just have to go with the cheaper rate”, he said.

Students in tertiary institutions are faced with challenges around their academics tied to the desire to come out successful. However, while they are compounded with several day-to-day activities, the thought of finding what to eat has become worrisome as food prices continually increase in the market.

Awotubo is one of many Nigerian students who have been faced with this challenge, said, “these things are not healthy, we go through a lot of things —some people are emotionally down. And food plays a very important role I must say. But then the rate of things is inflating and I hope that Nigeria gets better. The future is something worth anticipating because at this rate, I am tired and wouldn’t know what to do.

“I checked my weight a few days back, the last I checked I weighed 60kg, now I weigh 55kg”, he lamented.

Students groan in dismay

When this reporter spoke with Ogaga Emete, a student of Tai Solarin University, who buys most of her foodstuff from Oke aje in Ogun state, she said, “Before now, we could purchase 1 bottle of groundnut oil and one bottle of palm for 500 naira. Now a bottle of groundnut oil is N1000 for a bottle. 

“Palm oil is around the same price. Even beans is N600 per measurement (derica) which used to be N100 per derica. No egg of N50 any longer, most eggs are sold for N70 and it is so small. Noodles that used to be N60 are sold for N100 per one. I do not even understand anymore.

“Pure water in school is now sold for three N50 for cold ones. As a student, you cannot even purchase a soft drink of N100 any longer. Drinks are now N150. N200 cannot even get you a decent meal at this time. Because you can’t get beans of N50 again and buy bread alongside it. Beans are now sold for N100 while the least bread is sold for N150. Even at that price, it is scantily enough to satisfy you.

“Did I even omit gas? Earlier this year we purchased gas for 300 – 350 naira. Now the price of cooking gas is N850”, she lamented.

For Praise Akinpelu, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, coping with the food prices has been very challenging.

“Beans I used to purchase for N650 per Congo is now N1500, Noodles of N1000 per pack is now N3000. Milo used to be N300 per row but it is now N650. Even milk used to be sold for N250 per row but it is now sold for N450. Gas of N300 per kg is now 750 per kg. Garri used to be sold for N150 per Congo but it is now 600 per Congo. Groundnut oil was  N300 per bottle but it is now N900.”

Caption: People buying food products in the market. Photo Credit: Faith Omoniyi

T-fare hikes affect food prices

Despite having to battle with the increasing prices of foodstuffs, the increasing rate of transportation has also restricted several students from patronizing the marketplace.

Faramade Adeniyi, a student of Public Administration, Olabisi Onabanjo University said, “We no longer go to the market as we used to anymore due to the hike in transportation. Transport of N150 naira is now double the price. Imagine spending transport of N400 naira just to purchase a pepper of N300 naira. And the pepper wouldn’t be enough, so small.”

Also, Ogaga Emete, a student of Tai Solarin University said, “From Oshodi to Ijebu Ode used to be N700-N800 naira, but now buses charge up to a thousand naira and cars charge up to N2000. Even the school shuttle that used to be N50 is now N100 naira.

“Transport to the market is so expensive these days. Sometimes I do not even see any difference in going to the market and buying around because the prices are somewhat similar. So, why waste the transport fare?

“Transport fare to the market is even enough to buy additional stuff because transport fare is now expensive”, she added.

Dealing with the increase

“I hardly eat once in a day and that once in a day is because of a woman that sells something in front of my hostel in which I owe her debt of 4000naira presently just trying to survive”, a student from FUOYE told the reporter.

Sylvia, another student at the University of Ilorin said, “I have had to restructure myself especially with the increase in the price of gas. You can not just take N10,000 to the market and expect to get sufficient foodstuff, it would not be enough. You can end up buying a lot of things for N20,000” 

“Rice is very expensive, it is either you make do with the local rice which is cheaper and comes with a lot of stones or you pay almost N2,000 for a paint rubber of foreign rice. 

“Even spaghetti is expensive–half a pack of spaghetti is about N3,000.”

For Gift, a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, said, “What used to be enough is no longer enough. And our parents wouldn’t understand, we are still giving the same amount of pocket money despite the increasing rate of things. Plus the frustration we go through in school is a lot to bear with the high rise in foodstuff.”

“I can no longer cook multiple times a day unlike before. I now cook once per day due to the high price of gas. 1kg of cooking gas around here costs between 800-1000 naira”, Aderanti a 400 level student of Economics Education, Tai Solarin University said.

“In my hostel, we have a reserved space for cooking with firewood because gas is very very expensive.” 

“A friend of mine also has a coal pot. Some of them even use kerosene for cooking. It’s not our fault as students, it’s the fault of the economy”, another 300 level student for TASUED, spoke anonymously.

Iota of hope

Akinpelu believes that the government can regulate the prices of things stressing that “They can place an official limit on the highest price these goods can be sold. The highest price a row of milk must be sold is N300, I believe this should curb it.”

However, on the part of Alo Ayomide, another student of the University of Lagos, “Individuals should learn to save up (for a rainy day like the increase in goods and all-cause it’s not planned. Also, cooperation(in the sense that the market women should join heads together to sell the same goods at a reasonable amount; not wanting to get more profit than the rest.”

• This is a three-part series report produced to highlight the struggles of how students in Nigerian tertiary institutions are dealing with the increasing food prices despite the consistent drop in inflation