In Nigeria's public health landscape, a critical question emerges: why are free condoms readily available while millions of adolescent girls struggle to afford basic menstrual pads? This disparity highlights what advocates call a fundamental misplacement of priorities in the country's health policy framework.
The Unseen Crisis Affecting Millions
According to UNICEF data, approximately 37 million women and girls in Nigeria experience period poverty, unable to access or afford menstrual products. This staggering number represents nearly half of the female population facing a monthly struggle that affects their education, dignity, and overall well-being.
Unlike condoms, which represent a choice-based intervention, menstrual products address a biological necessity that occurs monthly without fail. For a 14-year-old girl who isn't sexually active, the inability to purchase pads creates immediate educational and health challenges that free condoms don't address.
Infrastructure Deficits Compound the Problem
The crisis extends beyond product affordability. Research by Orebiyi and Emmanuel in 2023 reveals that many Nigerian schools, particularly public institutions, lack basic menstrual-supportive infrastructure. The absence of gender-segregated toilets, running water, waste disposal systems, and private spaces forces girls to manage their periods without dignity or proper hygiene facilities.
This infrastructure gap has direct consequences on education. Girls frequently miss school during their menstrual cycles, creating an educational disadvantage that can have lifelong impacts on their personal and professional development.
Economic Pressures Intensify the Struggle
The economic situation in Nigeria has dramatically worsened the menstrual product accessibility crisis. In just three years, the cost of menstrual pads has skyrocketed from ₦250–₦500 to ₦750–₦1,500. This price surge occurs in a country where 139 million citizens live below the poverty line, making basic menstrual hygiene products unattainable for many families.
The World Bank reports that girls and women constitute approximately 49.4% of Nigeria's population as of 2024. When nearly half the nation faces challenges affecting their education, health, and social participation, the issue transitions from minor concern to national emergency.
Policy Solutions and Progressive Examples
Some Nigerian leaders are beginning to address this critical need. On September 20, 2025, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State launched the Pad A Girl Initiative at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. This program aims to provide free menstrual products to over 40,000 female students across tertiary institutions in the state, setting a progressive example for other leaders to follow.
Organizations like the Buluzo Foundation, led by lawyer and executive director Necessity Nwachukwu, are working to fill the gap. The foundation has already distributed pads to 1,303 girls across Abia, Lagos, and Plateau states through menstrual product distribution, health dialogues, and policy advocacy.
Call to Action for Sustainable Change
Advocates are calling for comprehensive government action that includes providing free menstrual products in secondary schools, ensuring schools have safe spaces with clean toilets and running water, and integrating menstrual education into school curricula to combat myths and superstitions.
The fundamental argument remains clear: public health spending should prioritize urgent, continuous biological needs over choice-based interventions. As Nwachukwu powerfully states, we choose Nature over Choice. A nation that properly cares for its girls invests directly in its future.
