Jigawa school sanitation gaps are forcing girls to drop out, the state government says, warning that poor WASH facilities threaten education access

The Jigawa State Government has warned that inadequate sanitation and hygiene facilities in public schools are forcing many girls to abandon their education, describing the situation as a critical barrier to retention and equity in basic education.

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The disclosure was made on Tuesday during a media and stakeholders’ dialogue on water, sanitation and hygiene services in schools and primary healthcare centres, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund after a media tour of selected schools across the state.

Speaking at the event, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr Hauwa Mustapha Babura, said poor sanitation infrastructure and lack of privacy continued to undermine girls’ education, particularly during adolescence.

Dr Babura said many girls were compelled to leave school due to the absence of functional toilets and safe, private facilities, stressing that access to WASH services was essential to improving retention.

She said the government was committed to addressing the challenge despite difficulties linked to terrain and ageing infrastructure inherited by the current administration.

According to her, the state had made progress within its first two years in office and remained determined to accelerate reforms over the next phase of its tenure.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Professor Haruna Musa, acknowledged that infrastructure and sanitation challenges persisted across the state’s school system.

Professor Musa said the government was implementing measures to improve learning environments, noting that education could not be allowed to stall because of inadequate sanitation facilities.

He disclosed that Jigawa State currently has 2,727 primary schools and 618 junior secondary schools, bringing the total number of public basic schools to 3,345, with 8,689 toilets recorded across the system.

He added that mechanisms had been established for the strategic renovation, operation and maintenance of facilities, with a long-term improvement target set for 2030, despite limited resources.

On her part, UNICEF Advocacy and Risk Communication Specialist, Dr Sussan Akila, commended the state’s efforts but raised concerns about the wider national picture.

Dr Akila cited a 2021 WASH survey which showed that only 11 per cent of schools in Nigeria had access to basic sanitation facilities, with Jigawa State recording just 2 per cent.

She warned that poor WASH conditions exposed children and women to serious health risks and significantly affected enrolment and school retention, urging renewed investment in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in rural communities.

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The dialogue underscored the human cost of inadequate school sanitation and the urgent need for sustained action to ensure that girls are not denied education due to preventable conditions.