For students trying to attend lectures, study, and stay healthy, access to clean water is no longer guaranteed on some campuses in Gombe State.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North-East Zone, has raised the alarm over an acute shortage of potable water in several tertiary institutions across the state, warning that the situation now threatens students’ health and academic life.
In a statement released on Sunday in Gombe, the NANS North-East Zonal Coordinator, Muazu Hina, said students in the affected institutions are “currently grappling with an alarming shortage of potable water.”
He described the situation as “unacceptable and dangerous.”
According to Hina, the crisis has been worsened by an ongoing cankerworm infestation, which has disrupted water sources and sanitation facilities within campuses.
“The crisis has been compounded by the ongoing cankerworm infestation, which has disrupted water sources and sanitation facilities, exposing students to health risks and undermining academic activities,” he said.
For many students, the lack of clean water affects more than hygiene — it impacts concentration, attendance, and overall well-being.
Hina stressed that access to potable water is a basic human right and a core requirement for effective learning, urging the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to step in urgently.
He called on the Commission to “rise to the occasion by deploying solar-powered boreholes and sustainable water infrastructure to the affected institutions.”
The NANS coordinator noted that addressing water and electricity challenges in tertiary institutions falls within the NEDC’s developmental mandate.
“Addressing water and power challenges in educational institutions aligns directly with the developmental and humanitarian mandate of the NEDC, particularly in rebuilding and strengthening social infrastructure in the North East,” he said.
Despite several engagements with the Commission, Hina said the problem has persisted.
“Despite repeated appeals and engagements with the Commission, the situation remains unresolved,” he said.
He warned that urgent intervention is needed “to prevent further deterioration of students’ welfare and institutional stability.”
While reaffirming NANS’ commitment to peaceful advocacy, Hina said the association would continue to press for action.
“NANS North East will not be silent in the face of neglect. We will continue to advocate, engage, and demand accountability in the interest of Nigerian students and the future of education in the region,” he stated.
Beyond official responses, the association also appealed to government agencies, development partners, civil society groups and concerned Nigerians to work together to restore safe and conducive learning conditions for students in Gombe State and across the North-East.
For students on affected campuses, the hope is simple — that basic needs like clean water will no longer be a daily struggle, but a given.
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