By: Sonaike Peter
Although education and nutrition may seem unrelated, they are not indispensable to every human. Adequate feeding, meeting dietary needs, is crucial for students. Nutritious living plays a significant role in academic success. Nutritional inadequacy, on the other hand, can compromise healthy living. Exorbitant food costs in Nigeria, which is an underlying cause of nutritional inadequacy, compound existing socioeconomic inequalities, even for students at the University of Ibadan.
Precisely under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the cost of living has soared to scary heights. This regression caused by various oppressive policies, include the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, and even on education, has left a significant dent on the purchasing power of Nigerians, including students. Students are doubly disadvantaged as the University community lacks effective price regulation, further intensifying the negative impact on the already troublesome economy.
Widely, the lack of price regulation in an undefined economy like Nigeria has been a repeatedly emphasized concern. The concern manifests also in two forms at the University of Ibadan. The first is the fact that within the University of Ibadan, there exists too spacious price disparities among vendors. The second is that in comparison to vendors outside of the school community, the University community demands much more than should be.
While it is understandable that campus vendors are retailers purchasing goods from wholesalers, the heavy gap differences between on-campus and off-campus products are not usually justifiable. For instance, where a congo of Garri may cost eight hundred naira (800) off-campus, some vendors on campus charge as much as one thousand two hundred naira (1200) to (one thousand five hundred naira (1500) for the same item. This causes concerns about the cost of living on campus. Where inflation and increasing costs are inevitable in the broader economy, it is crucial that students are shielded from excessively high financial burdens amidst these economic challenges.
Students, speaking to IndyPress, have expressed concerns about the trend, advocating for campus commodity price regulation. A recent instance occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, where students voiced complaints about being overcharged by a vendor.
Unheard Voices: “Bring down the price, we are not working class Individuals”
Michael, a 300-level student from the Faculty of Agriculture, shared with IndyPress that although he rarely buys food items, he frequently consumes snacks. He noted a noticeable variation in prices between Independence Hall, where he resides, and the Faculty of Agriculture, stressing the importance of implementing price control measures.
“There are differences in what the vendors sell, even in our hostel, a vendor sells coasters for 50 naira. There is a vendor at zik; Lagbaja, he sells his coaster at 70 naira. In my Faculty, some vendors sell their coaster biscuits at 60 naira,” he said.
When asked why he thought prices among vendors in the university differed, he attributed the price discrepancies to the probability that vendors source their goods from different suppliers, leading to varying costs. He also expressed pessimistic views about the commercial integrity of some vendors, charging the school authority to intervene and address these issues.
“Some sellers are not trustworthy, they are just after making profits,” he said.
Dapi, a 300-level Geology student also confirmed the outrageous price differences between goods sold on and off campus based on his experience. He said that the exorbitant prices of commodities on campus often led him to exceed his budget.
He emphasized that food items in the hostels are more expensive than those available outside the school, and given the challenging economic condition, he frequently has to spend more than planned to meet his needs.
“For me, it is not budget friendly, and sometimes I may not have the opportunity to go far for cheaper options,” he explained.
He also called for price regulation on campus, stating that “this is an educational environment; there should be control over what is being sold and at what price so that students can access goods at affordable prices”.
Dapi’s mention of accessibility and affordability is a reminder of the 3 A’s of food security and nutrients – ‘Availability, Accessibility and Affordability’. Meaning that it is not enough that food is made available, but also made accessible and affordable.
Another student, Towsond, a Petroleum Engineering student, shared different thoughts on the rising cost of commodities, noting that prices on campus are similarly manageable to those off-campus.
“The prices are not really bad compared to those on campus but they need to be brought down a bit because students are not in the working class,” he told IndyPress.
“Before, I could afford everything I wanted, but now I have to plan and budget carefully for every purchase,” Towsond explained.
He emphasized the growing challenges for students, who often do not have the same financial capacity as working individuals, calling for a reduction in the high cost of commodities
“We sell according to what we buy” – A Sellers’ Perspective
Some campus vendors have shared the reasons behind the rising prices of goods. Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwaseun, a vendor at the Great Independence Hall, who spoke to IndyPress, pointed that the cost of transporting goods to the campus has been a major factor. She referred to the people who help carry goods to vehicles, known as “Alabaru”, as an added expense.
“The cost of transporting goods to campus is high, including the money spent on Alabaru who help carry the goods,” she said. She also highlighted the increase in the cost of prepaid electricity, which is essential for keeping drinks cold.
“Before, four units of prepaid electricity cost 1,000 naira, but now it costs 5,000 naira,” she said.
Finally, she emphasized the cost of renting land for selling goods on campus, stating, “No land in UI is free for commercial activities.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Akinola, another vendor, explained that the rising costs were due to issues with electricity and the fluctuating prices of the goods she purchases.
“Things are very costly in the market place and any vendor who goes to the market and buys it, there is nothing he can do; he will sell according to the rate,” she said.
She mentioned that market prices dictate the rates at which she sells her products. Despite students’ complaints about the high cost of goods on campus, Mrs. Elizabeth maintained that she and other vendors strive to offer prices that are student-friendly.
“The market price is not even stable. The price of what you buy today might change by tomorrow, and the rate at which it is changing is too much,” she added.
‘Team Amelioration’: Students’ Union Intervention
In an interview with IndyPress, the Students’ Union House Secretary, Elemide Daniel linked the rising cost of goods to the country’s economic tailspin.
“Food and other essentials are more expensive than it used to be in recent years everywhere, even outside the campus,” Elemide said.
The House Secretary acknowledged that some campus vendors are exploiting students by inflating prices, making essential items unnecessarily expensive.
Additionally, he assured that a meeting has been scheduled for next week with the hall chairpersons of all halls of residence to discuss price regulation and ensure students are no longer overcharged unnecessarily.
“However, we are aware that some campus vendors have been taking advantage of that to exploit students unduly, and make things unnecessarily unaffordable for students”.
“We’ve attended to several complaints on matters like this. There will be a meeting next week with the hall chairpersons of all halls of residence about price regulation”.
“We will work hand-in-hand to ensure that no student is exploited,” Elemide concluded.
It is crucial for the Students’ Union and the relevant stakeholders to intervene in order to address the issue of overcharging on campus and ensure proper price regulation.
