By Yisau Babatunde
while listening for footsteps outside. Every few seconds, he paused, still lowering the flame; the quiet cooking was not out of convenience but out of fear.
Besides pieces of textbooks and half-written lecture notes were placed, the final-year students stirred his food carefully, pausing every few seconds whenever he heard any voice through the corridor.
“If anybody knocks now, I’ll switch it off immediately,” the final-year student whispered, lowering his voice almost instinctively even as though the wall could report him.
The small gas cylinder he used for cooking was carefully hidden inside a carton and carefully tucked inside his travel bag whenever he was done.
According to him, hostel maintenance has suddenly become a source of anxiety among many students who secretly use gas.
Across UDUS Hostels, gas and other electric cookers have been prohibited by the management over safety concerns. Yet, findings by Digest Press across the hall of residences show that despite this restriction, students still secretly cook with these prohibited cookers, while they argue that the economic reality in the country has left them with no option.
Between Safety and Survival
This reporter went to one of the private hostels in the school, where gas and other electric cookers are used freely. Popoola Mubarak, a resident of Benji hostel, described the management’s decision to restrict it as understandable but impractical.
According to him, reality does not reflect the realities of students' lives inside the hostels. While agreeing that the safety concerns are very essential, he noted that expecting students to survive on the use of charcoal is not the practical solution because it is stressful, takes longer time, and causes headaches or coughs when the smoke is too much.
“I have used the charcoal pot during my janitor days; I often ended up with swollen eyes, a headache, or a cough at most times. It is very frustrating.”
His concerns reflect broader global health findings. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prolonged exposure to smoke from solid fuels such as charcoal and firewood can contribute to respiratory infections, eye irritation, and other long-term health complications, particularly in poorly ventilated environments.
He advised the school management to think of better alternatives instead of restricting the use of gas and putting the students into distress and suffering without considering the risks attached.
Another student, Habeeb Olokooba, said a gas cooker has significantly reduced his feeding expenses amid Nigeria's economic hardship. He explained that once a gas cylinder is filled, maintenance becomes minimal, aside from careful usage, especially in a period where food prices have continued to rise sharply.
“When I feel like cooking, I do so without worrying too much about anything, except the time it takes to prepare the food,” he said.
According to him, gas cooking is generally safe when proper precautions are taken and there is no leakage. He described it as a reliable and efficient method of preparing meals when used responsibly.
He added that it has helped him cut down expenses considerably. For example, buying meals like bread and beans outside the hostel would cost at least ₦1,000 or more, excluding additional items such as meat, fish, or eggs. However, preparing the same meal at home costs significantly less and is often more satisfying.
“In terms of challenges, there is really no major difficulty; the only minor issue is the waiting time while the food is being prepared,” he said calmly.
Sometimes, it's about hygiene.
For Muraina Aishah, a student residing at the back of the school stadium, the issue extends beyond cost and convenience. For her, cooking personally is closely connected to health and hygiene concerns.
According to her, using gas cookers is very important, because she cannot afford to expose herself constantly to the smoke produced by charcoal pots, which many students now rely on as an alternative following restrictions on gas usage within university hostels.
“I cook with gas because I do not want to risk my health,” she stated firmly.
She explained that the use of charcoal regularly has exposed students to too much of smoke which leads to coughing, headaches, eye irritation, and other health problems she doesn't know of.
Still, she acknowledged that the safety concerns surrounding gas usage, particularly in overcrowded and poorly ventilated hostels, are legitimate and should not be ignored.
“If students are going to start cooking with gas in the hostels, then awareness about safety is very important,” she said.
According to her, the solution should not revolve around punishment alone but around proper safety education, regular inspections, and the provision of safer alternatives by the school management.
Fire Outbreak Deepened Safety Concern
While the use of gas cycling has always been frowned upon by the UDUS management, the concern surrounding gas in its usage inside the school hostels intensified after a fire outbreak in the month of June, 2025.
Digest Press had earlier reported in a publication titled “INSIDE UDUS: Jubril Aminu Hostel’s Porter Office Caught Fire, Valuable Items Destroyed," where a fire outbreak occurred at the porter’s office within the hostel, destroying several valuable items.
Findings from the report indicated that the incident was primarily triggered by an electrical fault. However, the situation reportedly became more severe due to the presence of gas cylinders earlier confiscated from students and stored inside the porter’s office.
According to findings gathered at the time, the cylinders intensified the fire and made efforts to contain the fire outbreak become more difficult despite the swift intervention of the university’s Fire Safety Department.
This incident further exposed fresh concerns surrounding the handling, storage, and management of seized gas cylinders within hostel environments, raising questions about whether prohibition alone is sufficient without proper safety procedures and risk management systems in place.
While UDUS Restricts, Other Campuses Regulate
Findings by Digest Press further show that in Nigerian universities, the use of gas cookers is not treated as an outright offense but as an activity that requires regulation, supervision, and strict safety measures.
At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the students are permitted to cook with gas but only need a designated kitchen provided for them within the hostels.
Mercy Ojegbola, a student of the institution, explained that the university does not prohibit students from using gas cookers for cooking, but shared kitchenettes equipped with safety facilities are available for students.
“Students are not allowed to cook inside their rooms; we are expected to use the kitchen spaces provided by the school, and anyone who fails to comply faces disciplinary action.”
According to her, hostel facilities are also equipped with fire extinguishers, water tanks, and other emergency safety measures designed to manage possible fire incidents.
While acknowledging the risks associated with careless handling of gas cookers, Mercy maintained that proper regulation and safety awareness make usage manageable.
Fire safety remains a key concern in Nigerian student hostels. The Nigerian Fire Service regularly warns about gas-related accidents and the need for proper handling of cylinders.
She recalled an incident that occurred in November 2025 when a student reportedly forgot to turn off a gas burner properly before stepping out briefly to get additional cooking ingredients.
“When she returned and tried using it again, the place suddenly caught fire, but no life was lost and no property was damaged because the fire extinguisher provided in the hostel was used immediately.”
To her, the incident demonstrated the importance of preparedness and readiness rather than outright prohibition of the use of gas.
She also expressed surprise that some universities still rely heavily on charcoal as an alternative to gas cooking.
“Students are still cooking with charcoal in hostels?” she asked rhetorically. “At this point, that feels outdated.”
Similarly, Anuoluwa Julius, a student of Bayero University Kano (BUK), shared a similar perspective, arguing that modern universities should focus more on safety regulation than outright bans on gas cookers.
“We are in a modern age; there is a reason gas cookers replaced kerosene stoves and charcoal in many places. The focus should be on proper usage and safety measures, not just restrictions.”
According to him, gas cooking is faster, easier, and less stressful for students already dealing with tight academic schedules and economic pressure.
He explained that he could decide to cook as late as 9 p.m. and still finish within an hour with a gas cooker while still attending other important activities simultaneously.
“Imagine trying to cook with a charcoal pot at that time; before you even finish blowing the charcoal to get enough fire, a lot of time is already wasted. At the end, you are exhausted from the stress and the smoke you inhaled while cooking," he said.
However, he acknowledged that Bayero University Kano still maintains certain restrictions within its hostels, particularly against the use of electric hotplates due to the dangers associated with electrical faults and fire incidents.
According to him, students found using prohibited hotplates often have them confiscated by hostel authorities as part of measures aimed at preventing electrical accidents within the accommodation facilities
Gas Is Not the Enemy
Richard Olayinka, a gas technician based in Ibadan, said the danger associated with gas cookers is often linked more to negligence and poor handling than the appliance itself.
“Gas cylinders are generally safe when properly maintained and used in ventilated spaces,” he explained.
He attributed that most accidents happen because of leakages, expired regulators, careless handling, or lack of safety awareness among the users.
He noted that overcrowded environments can increase risks if users ignore basic precautions such as checking for leaks, turning off burners properly, or storing cylinders close to heat sources.
“Students should never leave a burner on unattended, and cylinders should always be placed in open, ventilated areas,” he advised.
Richard also argued that outright bans alone may not completely solve the problem if students continue cooking secretly without supervision or safety education.
“When people are forced to hide gas cookers, they may end up using them in unsafe ways. Safety awareness, regular inspections, and proper cooking spaces are sometimes more effective than total prohibition.
He added that a gas cooker is not the enemy; rather, improper usage is the real danger.
Beyond Individual Experiences
Beyond personal accounts from students, findings gathered by Digest Press from charcoal sellers within the hostels and gas vendors around the Benjee hostel axis revealed the economic realities shaping students’ cooking choices.
Interviews and price observations conducted during the investigation examined the cost of charcoal, gas refills, durability, and the stress associated with using either option.
Across the hostels, charcoal is commonly sold in different quantities ranging from ₦400 to about ₦2,000 for a quarter sack.
According to Mubarak, a student familiar with charcoal usage, the smallest quantity often lasts for only one cooking session, while the medium size may serve for two uses if carefully managed. The quarter sack, he explained, can last for about two weeks depending on the frequency of cooking and the type of food being prepared.
By comparison, gas vendors around the Benji hostel area disclosed that 1 kilogram of gas currently costs about ₦1,700, with students refilling cylinders based on their individual capacity and needs.
Waheed Abdulkabir, another student interviewed by Digest Press, said a single kilogram of gas could last him nearly one month under moderate usage.
“Once I refill my cylinder, I don’t really worry too much about cooking again, especially if I am not preparing foods like beans that consume more gas,” he explained.
According to him, gas remains more affordable, time-saving, and less stressful compared to charcoal.
“It saves time and does not expose users to smoke or health risks the way charcoal does,” he said.
Waheed further explained that gas provides a form of security during periods of financial difficulty.
“If I already have gas and foodstuffs in my room, I can still survive even when money is tight, but with charcoal, even if you have food available, you may still go hungry if you cannot afford to buy charcoal at that moment," he said.
Findings from the investigation suggest that for many students forced to depend on charcoal as an alternative, the burden extends beyond inconvenience. The process is often time-consuming, physically stressful, and associated with potential health risks caused by prolonged exposure to smoke.
Process is Ongoing — SU CTC
Fatima Zarah, The Students’ Union Welfare Director said the union is already engaging the university management on the possibility of allowing regulated gas usage within the hostels.
According to her, the proposal focuses on safety and precaution measures rather than unrestricted usage by the students.
“Yes, we are requesting and hoping the school management accepts our proposal as soon as possible,” she said.
She explained that one of the key precautionary measures proposed is ensuring that gas cookers are used only in designated cooking areas outside students’ living rooms to reduce fire risks and improve safety within the hostels.