When Elisha (other names withheld), a student in one of the public universities in Lagos State came home during a break, his father could barely recognise him, as though not sick, he was visibly emaciated, no thanks to malnutrition.

On campus, the accounting education student told his inquisitive father that he was only able to afford bread and beans since most food items had gone out of the reach of average citizens.

“I was outside the house when I saw him coming on a commercial motorbike. Even from afar, I could see how lean he was. When he came down and greeted me, I asked him whether he fell sick in school and he said nothing of such happened. I asked him whether he knew he had emaciated and what he thought was the reason.

“The reply I got was shocking. He said he mostly ate bread and beans on campus. They cannot cook in the hostels, which are even overcrowded. To eat what we call “swallows” is a luxury most of the time.

”I felt bad but apart from him, I still have three other children in the same university. And this is a school where we paid less than N40,000 as fees just a couple of years ago and we are now being made to pay nearly N200,000,” Elisha’s father, a medical worker in a Lagos teaching hospital, said.

Food inflation in Nigeria

Recently, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said headline inflation for June 2024, was dominantly driven by food inflation, which rose to 40.9 per cent year-on-year, up from 40.7 in May 2024 and significantly higher than 25.3 per cent in June 2023. Similarly, core inflation rose to 27.4 per cent in June 2024, from 27.0 per cent in May 2024 and 20.1 per cent in June 2023.

It added further that all measures of inflation rate rose in June 2024, albeit at a slower pace. Headline inflation increased to 34.2 per cent in June 2024 from 22.8 per cent in June 2023 and 34.0 per cent in May 2024.

The Inflationary pressures remain driven by currency depreciation, with the official exchange rate averaging N1471/$ in June, compared to N769/$ in June 2023 and rising imported food inflation (36.4 per cent y/y).

Cost of meal in UNILAG

For a 300-level student of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, surviving in school is now becoming difficult. The student, who craved anonymity, explained that previously, N5OO could suffice for snacks per day, and N1,500 for a meal. Now, N800 cannot get the same quantity of snacks.

“I am in the Department of History Education at UNILAG. Previously, I used to spend about N500 on snacks and drinks; and N1,500 on meals per day. But now, N800 can’t guarantee a snack and a drink. For meals, it is even worse.”

On the cost of the cheapest meal, she noted that: “The cheapest plate of meal for someone like me that doesn’t eat much is N1,300. But to get a full portion is between N2,800 and N3,000. I had to stop buying food from some places in school.”

Another student of UNILAG, who simply gave his name as Musa, told Vanguard: “Before the hike in food prices, I was spending between N5,000 and N10,000 on feeding weekly. And sometimes, I would not spend up to that amount.

”Now, I spend close to N20,000. Most of the time, this money is not enough. So, to survive I had to stop going to some restaurants to eat.”

Another student, Israel Chukwuemeka, a 300 level student of the Department of English, explained that feeding at home saved him the trauma of hunger at school.

“Since I go to school from home, I usually eat before leaving home, so that I won’t feel too hungry in school. Occasionally, one would still need to top it up in school. Whenever there is need for that, I spend N500 per day. However, the school management should simply subsidise food items for students.”

Scoop of rice is N300 in LASUED

Despite the fact that Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Ijanikin, Lagos, is close to the Nigeria-Benin border, where most traders bring rice to the state, rice is still unaffordable for many students. A scoop of cooked rice goes for N300, and five of such cannot satisfy an adult.

A 200 level student In the school, Elizabeth Emmanuel, called on the government to reduce the cost of food items.

Lamenting that students who depend on rice, one of the country’s staple and cheapest foods before the hike, could no longer afford it as a scoop of rice goes for N300.

“Before now, I can manage N4,000 for a week. However, the same is no longer feasible now. Common rice is being sold for N300 per scoop. What the government can do is to drastically reduce the cost of food items. Because they cannot give us cooked meals.

I spend N3,000 daily on feeding- Covenant University student

For a 200 level student of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, the government needs to bring down the cost of food items. He also lamented the fact that parents were facing serious challenges keeping their wards in school.

The student, who craved anonymity, explained: “Before the hike in prices of food items, my feeding was okay as I was able to follow my food timetable, budget and savings compared to now. While I spent N1,500 daily on feeding then, if I decided to feed twice, now, I spend N3,000 also feeding twice.

“The government needs to bring down the prices of food items because after paying school fees, our parents still have to worry about the cost of feeding us.”

We’re barely surviving on feeding allowance – UNILORIN student

For Ruka Ibrahim, a 400 level student of the Department of Mass Communication, UNILORIN, students are eating not to get satisfied but to survive.

“It’s a known fact that Nigerian students don’t feed well when they’re away from home. However, the recent hike in prices of food items has made things unbearably difficult. Students don’t eat to get satisfied anymore, they eat to survive!“

I am always hungry and restless

Another student of UNILORIN has this to say: “My feeding before the hike in the prices of food items was not that consistent since I’m not from a well-to-do family, but I was able to afford three square meals per day at least with enough protein and nutrients.”

A student, who refused to divulge his name or department, explained: “Before, I spent N1,000 daily, but now, I spend N3,000. As a result, I am always hungry and restless.”

On what he wants the government and his school management to do, he said:

They should focus on the students too. The transport fare in my school is taking all our feeding allowances, coupled with the hike in the prices of food, we are barely surviving as students and it is affecting our academics.”

School fellowship my saving grace – UNIBEN student

According to Favour Binchang, a Linguistics Studies student of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Benin City, being part of a school fellowship has been of great value.

“Then, N20,000 augmented with the foodstuffs from home was okay for me in a month. Currently, things are so bad that I can’t even make such calculations anymore. I’ve had to go back home twice this semester just to keep up with food supplies.

“To survive now is hell. If you patronise a ‘Bukateria’ at school, the cost of the cheapest food is about N1,200 per plate and it can barely satisfy you. So, I’ve had to juggle between home and school.

”Other times, I would travel to my sister’s house to spend the weekend and have three days of free food. My campus fellowship and friends have had to come through and succour me through the storms of hunger.

“To save students from hunger, as it was in the 70s/80s, the government should make food free on campus cafeteria with students using their food cards. It’s not for students to be thinking about what to eat and academic rigours at the same time.”

What schools are doing

When fees were increased at the start of the ongoing session at UNILAG, the management faced a lot of pressure from students who could not cope with the situation. Apart from those students who said they were unable to pay the new fees, there were those who had difficulties feeding.

According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, the management of the school, corporate bodies and even alumni association came to the rescue.

“Some students said they were able to pay the fees, but that they had difficulties feeding. In line with our belief that no student would drop out for any reason, the management of the university is providing meals for 40 of such students daily.

“We feed them thrice and we have also increased the number of participants in our work study scheme as well as increase the amount we pay them,” she said.

Parents, under the auspices of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, have called on the government to act fast in making life better for citizens, including students.

The Deputy National President, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told Vanguard that most people were going through difficult times.

“The government should ease things for the citizens because people are going through a lot, including students. The recent pronouncement by the federal government that there would be import waivers for some staple food items such as rice, beans etc, is commendable.

“Though the government said it would be for six months, I would suggest it lasts for as long as the hunger situation is brought under control.

“Our land borders can also be opened for a month or two to allow essential food items come in. I am not saying the borders should just be flung open forever, that is going to affect our local farmers but we need to make things easier for all. Now, the cost of some items are coming down, especially pepper and tomatoes.

“Most students in our higher institutions are teenagers who are at ages they need good nutrition, but many parents are unable to take care of their needs.”

The National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, said it had been difficult for students to cope under the current economic situation.

“How much can parents give their children that will be enough now? The cost of living is high and prices keep changing, going up daily. Coupled with that is the fact that parents are also having their financial powers eroded, as their real incomes diminish.

“Government can subsidise feeding for students on campuses. They did that in those days and students used their meal tickets to eat in cafeterias.

“We can do it again if we are willing and ready to do it. The resources are there and we just have to manage them judiciously. Also, government should think about the students during the distribution of palliatives. Empowerment should be given to students on campuses too.”

The Federal Government, which recently started disbursing loans to students through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, said the scheme had many parts which were intended to address different issues.

Spokesman of NELFUND, Mr Nasir Ayitogo, said the scheme had a programme to address such issue.

“The student loan scheme is not limited to helping students pay their fees. We do more than that. For instance, some students live off campus and may need to pay house rent, we can help do that if they apply for it.

“Also, students can apply for upkeep allowance loan too. That will help them on day-to-day feeding and general upkeep of their bodies and souls. Those in need of that can apply and when found okay, will be granted the loans NELFUND is about making learning comfortable for students by assisting with their fees, accommodation expenses and welfare,” he explained. (Vanguard)

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