The sporadic increase in cooking gas has greatly impacted the feeding cycle of the average student at FUOYE as the cost of feeding keeps skyrocketing.

By Dikeh Desire

The rising cost of cooking gas in Oye-Ekiti has forced many students to limit its usage, disrupting their cooking habits, finances, and daily welfare.

Cooking gas remains a primary household necessity for students living on and off campus, valued for its convenience, cleanliness, and speed over alternatives such as charcoal and firewood. However, sustained price increases have pushed many students to reduce consumption or abandon it altogether.

According to findings by the UCJ FUOYE reporter, the wholesale gas station in Oye-Ekiti currently sells cooking gas at ₦1,700 per kilogram, while retail traders sell between ₦1,900 and ₦2,000 per kilogram. This marks an increase of between ₦300 and ₦350 per kilogram from the previous week, when wholesale prices stood at ₦1,400 and retail at ₦1,750. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) attributed the price surge to supply shortages.

Grace Matthew, a 300-level student, said the increase has strained both her personal finances and her small business. "The increase in cooking gas has affected me in several ways as a student. It has increased my daily living expenses because I now spend more money on cooking. This reduces the amount of money available for transportation and other academic needs. As a result, I sometimes have to cut down on the number of meals I prepare at home," she said.

As regards her business, she added: "The higher cost of cooking gas has increased operating expenses and placed financial pressure on my business activities. I had to stop the business as a result of the cost."

Desmond, a retail gas trader, told the UCJ FUOYE reporter that fewer students now come to refill their cylinders.

"The increase in the price of cooking gas comes from the top, so we also have to increase the price we sell. This has really affected business. Those who still come to buy are those who have no other alternative," he said.

Chibuike Moses, a 200-level Banking and Finance student, described going four days without gas. "We were unable to refill our gas for four days because of the increase in price. We had to borrow our neighbor's gas to cook. It is really choking," he said.

A survey of 12 FUOYE students found that all respondents said the price increase had affected their feeding patterns. Reported coping strategies include cooking once daily, eating snacks or fast food, preparing large portions to last the day, skipping meals, and switching to charcoal. The development reflects the broader financial pressure that inflation continues to place on students' welfare and everyday life.