John AdoyiStudents of the University of Nigeria Nsukka have expressed their distress over the soaring prices of snacks, which they claim they can no longer afford. The once affordable treats like egg rolls, meat pies, fish rolls, doughnuts, puff-puff, cakes, and even basic items like a loaf of bread have become luxury items for many due to consistent price hikes.
According to the students, the prices of these snacks have been escalating daily, with average increments around 100 Naira since 2023. For instance, an egg roll, which was priced at 150 Naira in December, now goes for 300 Naira with full egg. While a meat pie, previously sold for 100 Naira, is now priced at 250 Naira in some shops and 300 Naira in others.
Egg that was sold for 100 Naira as of December 2023, is now priced at 200 Naira in some parts of the University.
Students also voiced concerns about the diminishing quality and size of the snacks. Samson Paul, a 300-level student of Guidance and Counseling, lamented, “With 300 Naira, I used to buy an egg roll and a bottle of soft drink that would hold me till I go home. It is no longer possible. This is not good at all because we students are finding it difficult to cope with this rising cost.”
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Eja Manifest, a 400-level Mass Communication student, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Egg roll and doughnuts are not for students anymore. I don’t know how the government wants us to survive. The economy is crumbling very fast.”
“I used to buy a proper bread for 200 Naira in 2023. But right now, 600 Naira bread cannot satisfy anyone,” Mr. Manifest added.
Victor, a 300-level student of Economics, expressed concerns about the impact on his personal well-being, “I am one of those highly affected by this daily price increment because I eat them to make sure my ‘ulcer’ issue doesn’t disturb me during lecture hours” He stated that he still buys snacks but does not know for how long.
Several students have resorted to seeking alternatives to cope with the situation. Some have opted to bring food from home instead of purchasing snacks, while others have decided to endure hunger to save money for better-quality meals.
When approached, snack vendors also expressed their struggles. They cited skyrocketing prices of materials such as flour, sugar, and butter as significant contributors to the increased cost of snacks. A snack vendor at the Faculty of Arts, who preferred to remain anonymous, disclosed, “You cannot go to the market with 50 thousand Naira to buy anything reasonable in this era.” She contemplated closing her business due to dwindling sales as students shy away from purchasing snacks.
Another vendor, who operates at the Social Science Faculty, lamented the unaffordability of market goods. She revealed that before December 2023, she could purchase a quarter bag of flour for 8 thousand Naira or less, depending on the brand. However, as of February 2024, a quarter bag now goes for nothing less than 15 thousand Naira.
In a similar vein, a baker pleaded with customers to understand the increment of snack prices. She recounted her recent market experience, stating, “I went to the market with 45 thousand Naira to buy materials but was unable to buy a substantial amount due to the daily increment. The vendor I buy my baking materials from told me everything has increased. He told me that prices are not lowering at all.”
While sympathizing with the plight of students, vendors urged understanding, stating that price increments were necessary for them to sustain their businesses and provide for their families. They stressed that they, too, were victims of the harsh economic conditions prevalent in the country.
Students and Vendors urged the federal government to put measures in place to reduce the biting economy with some stating that if nothing is done soonest, starvation would be the order of the day.
