Studies show that an average human being needs about three square meals a day to be well nourished, but this seems to be less of the reality faced by students living and schooling in private universities across Nigeria.

It is no longer news that the prices of foodstuffs have increased astronomically in Nigeria due to fuel subsidy removal induced inflation and the fall in the value of the naira, dropping at an alarming rate against the US dollar. With profit minded food vendors in private campuses hiking their prices in order to stay in business, it has become difficult for students to eat well not to talk about eating three times a day. Is the plummeting economy really our only problem?

To put things in perspective, students in private universities across Nigeria are not allowed to cook talkless of bringing in foodstuffs, which makes us reliant on these food vendors, giving them more than enough leverage for exploitation, though food vendors provide necessary services in school premises. More than a handful of them seem to be taking advantage of students by providing below-the-par services with extremely high prices.

Foods, as cheap as indomie noodles that cost N300 and egg for N170 in the local market, are sold for N500 and N300, respectively, in private universities, making it difficult and expensive for an average student to afford. “Seeing we are in private schools they believe our parents have the money and as such increase the prices in folds, as if we are the cause of the inflation plaguing the nation, not knowing our parents sent us here due to circumstances beyond their control”, a student once said.

Nigerian students are complaining that foods like beans, rice and garri, considered “fast-selling items and staple” meals, are the most expensive items sold in Nigeria’s private universities. “I bought a spoon of beans for N300 on Wednesday, and going back to the same vendor on Friday she increased her price to N500,” says Esosa, a 200-level student of Benson Idahosa University. “How did inflation affect her when she has not finished selling the ones she got previously from the market”, she laments.

“Four slices of plantain is N200, meaning a slice of plantain is N50. How is that even possible?” cries Victory, a 300-level student at the same school. “I cannot even afford to get swallow here oh… because nah big man food be that”, says a 100-level student of Landmark University.

These have unfortunately become a common experience among students who are facing the unfair practices of these food vendors in school premises.

Now, let us compare the amount of money spent on a meal in private universities and public universities. “3k and above for a balanced meal”, says a 300-level student at Afe Babalola University, when asked the amount of money spent for an average meal. In a message she had sent to me, she detailed her expenses on food for the day prior, “A portion of rice is N250. A portion of some special rice is N400. Beef is N400. Pack is N200. Bottle water is N200. So let’s say 4 portions of special rice for a full plate (N1,600), beef (N400), pack (N200), water (N200), parfait (N2,000) total is N4,400 for a meal!!”.

While “N1,200 is the total of what I spent on breakfast. I got rice and stew with beans”, says another 200-level student of the University of Port Harcourt.

Other unethical practices of these food vendors include: Unsanitary environment in which food is prepared and sold to students, substandard meals (undercooked and overcooked) along with unprofessional or lack of customer service. Not only do they serve food in dirty stalls with dirty utensils in unkempt attires, they seem to have a personality to match (some students have reportedly been admitted due to food poisoning).

The prices at which these meals are sold do not only affect the student financially but also their wellbeing and lifestyle on campus. For many students, the exorbitant prices of food on campus mean having to make difficult choices like sacrificing their feeding for other essentials like textbooks.

But how are these things even happening? Isn’t the school meant to be a safe place for students? Unfortunately, there are no effective policies set in place to hold these vendors accountable and protect the students. The establishment of these policies will serve as a foundation for better services rendered to students. For example, if a vendor cannot sell his or her food for an agreed and reasonable amount; he or she should not be allowed to own a space in the school’s cafeteria. Price fluctuation should be fined, regular sanitation checks should be done, both scheduled and unscheduled. Raising students’ awareness by educating them on how to handle situations of exploitation as well as setting up bodies for reporting severe cases of oppression in these private universities is a probable solution to these wrongful practices of food vendors.

This is a call to members of the Academic Administration to grab this problem by the reins and be more proactive in the affairs of the students by imposing sanctions on defaulters, making students aware of their rights and holding vendors accountable for violation of these rights. Provision of alternative food options like student-run cafes and food cooperatives or safe and healthy environments for students to prepare their own meals can be a step towards stopping this current crisis and playing a part in healing the nation.

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Marvellous, a 200-level student of Benson Idahosa University, writes from Benin City