By Oyelowo Khalid
Amaoo Maruf, a final year Economics student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), couldn’t hide his frustration over the poor toilet conditions in his private hostel at Sharma. For weeks, the blocked toilet has left him with no option but to seek help at a friend’s hostel. Even after the soakaway was repaired, the cover was never replaced, leaving behind a foul smell that chased people away from his hostel.
“This is really affecting my health, but I’ll be leaving this year. In fact, because of this, most of my friends have stopped coming to my side,” Amaoo told this reporter.
According to him, despite several complaints made to the landlord, nothing has been done to address the situation, which continues to worsen. He added that tenants often clash with the landlord, but no meaningful action has been taken
Amaao’s story is not unique, it mirrors the reality affecting Nigeria. According to a report by UNICEF, about 48 Millions of Nigerians still lack access to toilet facilities. This situation, coupled with lack of safe-hand-washing, is widespread.
Apart from the discomfort, Inadequate Toilet facilities also come with deadly consequences. For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio. It exacerbates stunting and contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
More Payment, More Suffering: Residents Left Unrelieved
Despite paying more than the N25,000 charged in school hostels like FBI, Zamfara, and Bakassi, students in private hostels continue to suffer poor living conditions. Many of these school hostels, which charge less, still maintain fair toilet facilities compared to what some private hostels offer.
As beads of sweat ran down her face, Motunrayo, a 200-level student of sociology, lamented how the amount she had paid for her “80k” hostel no longer reflects the value she’s now receiving.
“Some of the toilets in the hostel are blocked, causing serious air pollution,” she said. “The blockage has led to a shortage of toilets, as all the 40 rooms in our hostel now share 7 toilets.”
Another resident, Ibraheem AbdRahmon, a 300 level law student, recounted how the toilets used to be before he left there in 200-level due to poor maintenance.
“I need to wake up early in the morning to find somewhere to toilet or take a bath so I won’t expose my body. Even the landlord, after collecting money, failed to repair it for us.”
Inadequate Toilet Facilities Contribute to Cholera, Says Minister
In a one-day sensitization exercise to mark the annual world toilet day 2024, the Minister of environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, attributed cholera outbreak in Nigeria as to Inadequate toilet Facilities.
The Minister also added that, one of the major consequences of poor excreta and sewage disposal is the high rate of Diarrhea disease, which is the second cause of high maternal mortality and child morbidity rates among children under the age of five.
Scary Data…
Between January and September 2024 alone, cholera claimed 350 lives in Nigeria, which has increased compared to 106 deaths recorded in the same period of 2023, marking a 239% increase, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). Suspected cholera cases also surged from 3,387 in 2023 to 10,837 in 2024 within the first nine months.
As of April 20, 2025, the Nigeria recorded 1,307 suspected cases and 34 deaths across 30 states and 98 LGAs, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.6% , far above the national target of less than 1%.
On May 9, 2025, a localized outbreak was confirmed in nine wards of Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, with 37 suspected cases and 3 deaths, reflecting a high CFR of 8.1%.
We Are Not Aware Of This, No Complaints From Anyone Since —SU Welfare Director
In an interview with the Welfare of the Students Union Caretaker Committee, (SU CTC), Aminu Kalgo, he said even though the Students Union have their say on the issues bothering the students, he said the unions are unaware of this issue as no complaints were received.
“Actually none of us knows about it because we have not received any complaints from any students yet,” he told the News Digest Press.
Dean Private Promises Action
The Dean of private hostels, in an interview with the News Digest Press assured that he will summon the chairman of all landlords in the Campus to a meeting.
The Dean added that he had previously contacted some landlords before, but they’re not turning up.
“I have been hearing complaints about this for months, and I know students are furious about it. I will sort this out soon with the landlords,” he assured.
This story was completed with support from Digest Press.