Nigeria: Rising costs strain families as schools resume

Nigerian families are facing significant financial strain as the new academic term begins. Surging costs for tuition, books, uniforms, transportation, and food are forcing many households to make difficult choices, such as seeking school payment installments or changing institutions to reduce expenses.

Despite a reported GDP expansion of 4.43 per cent in Q2 2026, many citizens report that economic growth has not improved living standards. Both parents and school operators are under pressure; while parents struggle to balance education costs with daily necessities like food, school managers report difficulties recovering tuition fees and managing accumulated arrears from families.