15% of Nigerian girls aged 15–19 are mothers or pregnant — FG

The Federal Government has disclosed that 15 per cent of Nigerian girls aged 15 to 19 are already mothers or pregnant, raising concern about adolescent reproductive health and gender inequality in the country.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known on Tuesday during the validation and adoption of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).

Represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Maryam Keshinro, the minister also revealed that more than 7.3 million adolescent girls and women suffer from undernutrition, with 55 per cent affected by anaemia, conditions she partly linked to poor menstrual hygiene and limited access to affordable sanitary products.

Describing the new policy as a “milestone”, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that menstruation “is a normal biological process that should never be a source of shame, stigma, or economic hardship.”

She also commended President Bola Tinubu for approving waivers on sanitary towels, saying it reflects his administration’s sensitivity to gender and public health concerns.

“Women aged 15 to 49 constitute about 25 to 30 per cent of Nigeria’s population. It is therefore critical to ensure that menstruation does not hinder the rights, opportunities, or well-being of any woman or girl,” she said.

Also speaking, Fifi Ogbondeminu, acting country representative of Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, said menstrual health should be treated as a human rights and development issue, describing the policy as a step towards ensuring menstruation is addressed “with dignity, empathy, and urgency.”

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