The Crisis of the Current Liquid Gold In The University of Ibadan

 EDITORIAL

The Crisis of The Current Liquid Gold In The University of Ibadan


An Alumni once told me about how they usually get free food and provisions at the beginning of every semester - during his time in the University. Of course, this kind of luxury is far-fetched from the current students - instead difficult times keep looms ahead.


It's no news that the University doesn't allow the use of Hot-plate or gas cylinders because of the hiked rate of electricity and carelessness of some students, respectively. But yes, the University of Ibadan supports the use of Kerosene - the current Liquid Gold.



Moreover, it's not even the expensiveness of this commodity that's the issue right now, but the scarcity. You don't know how this affects students' mentality? I'll tell you.


1. No peace of mind

Food is a basic essential that can never be overemphasized. It's not about eating elaborate, it's about a meal as sustenance when you undergo the premium shege in the university. However, peace of mind is faraway as the scarcity of kerosene is one of your first worry.


My roommate recently finished her 5 litres keg of kerosene and has been grumpy since last week. Why? Because of hunger. It's not even satisfying to eat in cafeterias whereby the food prices have skyrocket. So, there's no peace of mind as the pangs of hunger reminds you that your kerosene has finished.


2. Lack of zeal to read

You can read when you're hungry? Ah, wow, hunger kid. As students, eating to satisfaction stimulate concentration and productivity. When you're hungry, you lack the zeal to read. You spend time thinking of what your #500 will buy at cafeteria - only to succumb to junks after fruitless calculations.


3. Waste of time

Thinking about what to eat is an extreme sport in the University right now. As a result, this sport waste a lot of time that you should direct towards reading.


4. Health issues

It's now becoming a norm to see people suffering from stomach ulcers. These people have to eat at the right time and in the right proportion to maintain the condition and not trigger it. But what do you think will happen when food doesn't come at the right time? It'll most likely leads to "I need to go to Jaja. My tummy is paining me!"


5. Lack of concentration

I've never seen my roommates take breakfast while going to class. This is quite an irony as breakfast is said to the the most important meal of the day. Let me sight an example. My roommate and her friend spent over one hour trying to order food online yesterday. After futile efforts due to their indecision to get something, my roommate's friend(Tomi) called her mum.


Her conversation went thus:

Tomi: Ha, mummy, why haven't you replied the message I sent on WhatsApp?

Mum: I saw it but I've not had the time to reply.

Tomi: okay. What about the kerosene? Have you gotten it? 

Mum: Which kerosene? I've not gotten anything. Shey you don't know that kerosene is scarce arbi? I've not been able to get it.

Tomi: (already on the verge of tears), what will I do now?

Mum: you need to manage o. Just manage.

These are students who cook on a daily basis but the kerosene scarcity turned them into something else.


With this kind of situation, where will you get the time to decide what to eat when you have 8:00 AM class? You'll definitely have to go to class with an empty tummy, which might lead to lack of concentration in class.


There's no doubt that Kerosene scarcity and its exorbitant price is affecting students. Meanwhile there's no hope in sight as the University isn't budging about introducing another means of cooking.

 

When will this stop? When will students be able to cook in peace?

Obviously, not anytime soon!


                                                                                OLALEYE GBEMISOLA ZEENAT. 400L

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