By: Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
On a Thursday afternoon in August, the skies above Sharma Village, one of the private hostels at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, darkened with ominous clouds, signaling an impending downpour. As the rain seemed ready to pour at any moment, Muhammadjawad Oloruntoyin, a 300-level law student, prepared himself to face yet another daily inconvenience—his hostel’s unroofed toilet.
Oloruntoyin’s concerns had nothing to do with the looming rainfall but with the challenges posed by the uncovered toilet, a situation that has plagued the hostel’s residents for some time.
During the rainy season, the lack of a roof over the toilet has made life unbearable, as Oloruntoyin and his fellow students are often unable to use the facilities when heavy rains fall. The problem is compounded by the presence of houseflies in the toilet, which further diminishes the already uncomfortable experience.
“Once it’s raining, no matter how urgently I need to use the toilet, I can’t go,” Oloruntoyin explained. “This morning, as I was about to take my bath, it started raining lightly, and I found myself praying that it wouldn’t rain heavily before I finished. The toilet becomes completely useless whenever it rains heavily.”
Oloruntoyin’s frustration is palpable as he describes the daily struggle. “It’s extremely inconvenient. Imagine trying to answer nature’s call while also battling a swarm of houseflies. It’s extremely irritating. I can’t even recall the last time I used the toilet in peace,” he said.
Whether in the rainy, spring, autumn, or dry seasons, the uncovered toilet remains a persistent source of discomfort for Oloruntoyin. “Imagine trying to answer nature’s call under the scorching sun of Sokoto, while still having to contend with houseflies. It’s truly disturbing,” he said, his face clearly displaying his irritation.
According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) presented on March 22, 2024, poor toilet facilities can facilitate the transmission of diarrheal diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, intestinal worm infections, and polio. Similarly, a study by Biomedical Central has highlighted the negative impact of poor sanitary conditions on health, noting an increase in infectious diseases and environmental degradation.
More Students Speak Out
Komolafe Hammed, a 100-level Nursing student, also shared his experiences, which reflect the struggles faced by other residents in the private hostels.
“A toilet without a roof increases the presence of houseflies, which are vectors for disease,” Hammed explained. “These flies disturb us while we’re studying, cooking, and even sleeping in our rooms.”
Hammed made an urgent appeal to the landlords and landladies of the private hostels, urging them to address the situation by roofing the toilets for the benefit of the students’ health.
“The unroofed toilets produce offensive odors, which affect not only the hostel residents but also the surrounding areas. This bad odor can lead to diseases, and we could all become victims,” he said.
“The effects of unroofed toilets are unconducive and dangerous to our health. I call on the landlords and landladies to find a lasting solution to the issue,” Hammed urged.
Yahaya Ukasha, a 200-level Agricultural student, echoed these concerns when speaking with The Harbinger. He expressed the challenges posed by the lack of proper facilities, saying, “It’s difficult to take a bath in the rain. We also face problems during cold and heat periods due to the inadequate facilities.”
At the time of filing this report, all efforts by The Harbinger to reach the management of the affected hostels for comment were unsuccessful.
