The Federal Government has raised alarm over the troubling statistic that 15% of Nigerian girls aged 15 to 19 are either mothers or pregnant, underscoring the urgent need to address adolescent reproductive health and gender inequality in the country.
This revelation was made by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Tuesday during the launch of Nigeria’s first-ever National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).
Represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Maryam Keshinro, Sulaiman-Ibrahim also disclosed that over 7.3 million adolescent girls and women in Nigeria suffer from undernutrition, with 55% battling anaemia.
She linked these conditions partly to poor menstrual hygiene and limited access to affordable sanitary products, which continue to impact the health and well-being of millions of women and girls.
Describing the new policy as a “milestone,” the minister emphasized the need to normalize menstruation, stating that it is “a normal biological process that should never be a source of shame, stigma, or economic hardship.”
She commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s approval of waivers on sanitary towels, calling the move a significant step toward tackling gender and public health challenges.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the importance of ensuring that menstruation does not hinder the rights, opportunities, or well-being of women and girls, particularly since those aged 15 to 49 make up 25–30% of Nigeria’s population.
“It is critical to ensure that menstruation does not stand as a barrier to any woman or girl’s development”, she said.
Fifi Ogbondeminu, acting country representative of Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, echoed the minister’s sentiments, calling for menstrual health to be treated as a human rights and development issue.
She described the policy as a vital step toward addressing menstruation “with dignity, empathy, and urgency.”
Ogbondeminu emphasized that tackling menstrual health challenges is key to advancing gender equality and improving the lives of millions of Nigerian women and girls.