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The rising cost of kerosene is worsening the cost-of-living crisis for university students across Nigeria, forcing many to cut back on meals and adopt coping strategies to manage their daily expenses.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average retail price of kerosene rose sharply across the country in April 2026, with consumers in Sokoto, Lagos and Kebbi paying about N4,000 per litre.
Students of the Yakubu Gowon University told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the increase in kerosene prices has made cooking increasingly unaffordable, leaving many with no option but to eat less or seek cheaper alternatives.
They described the price hike as an additional strain on household budgets at a time of widespread economic hardship.
Reports indicate that kerosene, once considered one of Nigeria’s most affordable cooking fuels, has become scarce at many filling stations and increasingly unaffordable for many households.
The shortage has forced many consumers to rely on informal vendors, while analysts attribute the price increase to the deregulation of petroleum products, the depreciation of the naira and supply chain disruptions.
One of the students, Comfort Oyewole, said she now buys kerosene from fellow students because it is difficult to get elsewhere.
“I usually buy one litre, and it lasts me for about a week because I don’t cook much,” Oyewole said.
She added that she has no alternative cooking fuel and has been forced to reduce how often she cooks.
“The increase in kerosene prices has affected me a lot. I now cook less often, which means I do not eat enough, and I end up spending money on snacks instead,” she said.
Another student, Yod Elohim, said kerosene sells for about N3,400 per litre at the campus market, forcing him to buy only half a litre at a time.
“I usually buy half a litre for N1,700 and it will last for about two days if I cook twice daily,” he said.
A Nursing Science student, Joseph Kolade, said paying N2,000 per litre for kerosene had become a financial burden.
“I hardly eat outside; I like to cook for myself because I don’t feel satisfied when I eat outside.
“The two litres I bought on Monday cost N4,000, and I felt bad paying that money to the station attendant.
“The government should not be allowing marketers of petroleum products in this country to hold Nigerians to ransom by selling at whatever prices they like,” he said.
A Health Education student, Emeka Okoye, urged the government to take urgent steps to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians and make kerosene more affordable.
“I am pleading with the government to take urgent steps to ensure that kerosene is available and affordable for Nigerians,” he said.
