soaring textbook prices Nigeria
The skyrocketing cost of textbooks in Nigeria has triggered frustration among students, parents, and educators, even as publishers continue to record massive profits.
Reports from across the country show that the prices of essential academic materials have doubled or even tripled in the last two years, putting extra pressure on households already struggling with rising living costs.
A university student in Lagos lamented that a single course textbook now costs as much as ₦25,000, compared to about ₦8,000 in 2022. Parents of primary and secondary school pupils say they face even tougher challenges, as yearly curriculum updates force them to buy new books at inflated prices.
Publishers, however, attribute the hikes to rising production costs, including paper importation, printing, and distribution. Critics argue that while these factors are valid, the lack of government regulation has allowed some publishers to exploit the situation.
Education stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention, suggesting measures such as subsidized learning materials, investment in local paper production, and the promotion of digital textbooks to reduce dependence on imports.
Unless addressed, experts warn, the high cost of learning materials could worsen Nigeria’s education crisis by pushing more children out of school.
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