By Hussain Wahab
In recent days, worldwide inflation has roused many Nigerians from their slumber as to how to deal with the unexpected circumstances that have befallen them. Many of them began troubleshooting in a variety of methods in an attempt to find reliable answers or alternatives to overcome the’sapa’ caused by the enormous inflation. Danfodiyo students aren’t left out either; they’re looking for alternatives when their N1000 runs out of food.
In a society where a dollar is equivalent to N700 in terms of value. However, it takes sweat and blood from more than 60% of students who have to work hard just to make ends meet daily. Food, transportation, literature, clothing, and other basic needs for schooling are now considered luxuries for students because of the market price inflation.
These products are available, but they have become untouchable weapons, similar to legal immunity; they cannot be touched, even if they are required, in the same way, that executive leaders cannot be brought to justice while still in office. Suddenly, amid the students’ tragic fates, it’s painful to see the cost of cooking gas and kerosene skyrocketing day after day.
Gas prices are a crucible that has crammed the whole community of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, and by extension, Nigeria. This allows students to move from gas and kerosene grills to charcoal grills. People have begun to abuse and torment the gentle forest as Big Brother did to the animals in “Animal Farm.” Forgetting about the joys and lives they provide. As I previously stated, when availability is no longer affordable, it becomes avoidable, and affordability will be made available to alleviate the situation.
These two ideas have been battling me and overpowered my thinking. I then soliloquized and pondered if this was the best decision. Is this a healthy act? The answer to the first question is “no,” with an explanation in the second.
The use of a charcoal grill would undoubtedly result in deforestation, which will eventually lead to desertification; the process by which a geographic region becomes a desert. Then, what impact does a desert have? Erosion, infertility, and a lack of oxygen are all consequences of desertification.
Forestation, you see, heals in the same way that deforestation kills. Forests promote good health. The value of trees in human life cannot be overstated; they clean the air we breathe by absorbing carbon iv oxide and returning oxygen to us and animals via a process known as photosynthesis. You’ll agree with me that there is no such thing as survival without oxygen. Furthermore, forests provide land fertility, function as a windbreak, and prevent erosion. They protect people and agriculture from severe winds and erosion, which may be destructive.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking can cause a variety of diseases including cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. For these reasons, charcoal and firewood are not suitable for students’ consumption or health, especially if they suffer from any of the diseases.
In conclusion, the use of charcoal and firewood will induce desertification in Sokoto, resulting in herosion, barren ground, and windbreak. It is also not healthy to use it in hostels. However, the unresolved issue is: what are the options for students who cannot buy cooking gas or kerosene? Worried.