Yuletide on Campus: How Nigeria’s Economy Keeps Students from Home

Credit: Crosspaygroup.com

Agnes Oyedokun

The train terminal buzzed with activity as passengers clamoured to secure their spots on the next available ride. Korede stood at the edge of the crowd, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his eyes scanning the handwritten fare list. His heart sank. The numbers scrawled on the board were no longer the fares he remembered from just a year ago. A round trip home to Abuja, once manageable, had now ballooned into an expense he could no longer afford. With a heavy sigh, he stepped back and walked away from the terminal, knowing this festive season would be spent far from home.

For many students like Korede, the festive period; a time traditionally reserved for family gatherings and celebrations has become a stark reminder of the country’s economic challenges. The rising cost of living and transport fares have made travelling home a luxury few can afford, leaving campuses emptier and hearts heavier. Nigeria’s inflation rate rose for the third straight month in November 2024, soaring to a near 30-year high of 34.6%, up from 33.9% in the prior month. These economic realities have only been exacerbated by Nigeria’s challenging economic and political landscape, marked by inflation, fuel price hikes, and stagnant wages.

Samuel, a student from the Faculty of Arts, shared his plight: “So, yeah, I stay at Ota, just right beside Lagos, in Ogun State. On a good day, the transport from Iwo Road to my area at Ota is about 3,000 Naira, and that’s not factoring in the return trip. With the current economic and political landscape, the fare can go as high as 5,000 Naira. It’s self-defeating, irrational, illogical, and bad economics to spend that much on a trip home when I won’t be staying for at least a month! Then there’s the return trip to consider, which would cost more. Coming back to school would also require bringing along some food items. Granted, I can get such things here, but it’s different when you bring them from home. And things are cheaper over there than down here.”

Samuel’s frustration is palpable. Like many students, he has opted to forgo the trip home, instead requesting a wired transfer from his family. “In any case, it’s more economical getting a wired transfer and doing what I want with it than going home with the money,” he concluded.

Paul, from the Faculty of Science, echoed similar sentiments. “The cost of getting to my place is double the amount it was last December. The break is too short to spend that amount of money on travelling, especially for me, as I’ll be using three or four days at home. So I decided not to go home.”

For Korede, the student from the bus terminal, the situation is even more dire. “The gist of the matter is that I can’t go home because the fee to travel is very high. Going from Ibadan to Abuja costs close to 20,000 to 25,000 Naira. Adding the return fee, everything will add up to 50,000 or even more.”

Korede’s predicament highlights the broader economic issues at play. For many families, such expenses are unsustainable, forcing students to make difficult choices about how to allocate their limited resources. The strain of these choices mirrors the struggles many Nigerians face daily, where prioritising between basic needs often means forgoing essential aspects of life, such as family time.

The inability to travel home during the festive season goes beyond financial strain. It’s also an emotional burden for students and their families. Many students cherish the opportunity to connect with loved ones during this period, but economic constraints have left them isolated from the comfort and support of home. In a time when families often draw strength from togetherness, this isolation feels particularly acute.

As the cost of living continues to rise, students are finding innovative ways to bridge the gap. For some, virtual connections through video calls and online chats have become substitutes for physical presence. Others are forming “adoptive” families on campus, celebrating the festive season with fellow students who are also unable to travel. Though these measures provide temporary solace, they also highlight the ingenuity required to navigate a system that feels increasingly unforgiving.

Nigeria’s broader economic difficulties including inflation rates that have soared to record highs, an unstable currency, and the increasing cost of fuel are the backdrop to these struggles. For students, these national challenges translate into everyday decisions about whether to spend money on transport, food, or even essential academic materials. The festive season, far from being a time of joy, becomes a painful reminder of these limitations.

While these coping mechanisms offer temporary solutions, they underscore the urgent need for systemic change. Affordable transportation options, economic policies that address inflation, and targeted support for students could help alleviate this burden in the future. Some have called for student discounts on transportation or the introduction of more affordable mass transit options as immediate interventions.

The festive season is meant to bring people together, but for many students, it has become a reminder of the growing divide between their aspirations and the realities of an economy that is increasingly out of reach. Until substantial changes are made, the journey home will remain an unattainable dream for countless students during this cherished time of year. For now, students like Korede and Samuel must find ways to celebrate from afar, carrying the hope that future festive seasons will once again be filled with the warmth of home.