In a landmark move to tackle menstrual health challenges faced by millions of women and girls, the Federal Government of Nigeria has validated and adopted its first-ever National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM).
The policy was formally endorsed during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja, convened by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Dr. Maryam Keshinro, described the policy as a transformative step toward ensuring that menstruation does not limit the education, health, or dignity of any Nigerian woman or girl.
“The adoption of this policy signals our collective commitment to making menstrual health a priority,” she said, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s recent waiver on sanitary products reflects his administration’s sensitivity to gender and public health concerns.
According to data shared at the event, women aged 15 to 49 make up roughly 25 to 30 percent of Nigeria’s population—amounting to tens of millions managing menstruation monthly. However, many face systemic challenges due to poverty, poor access to menstrual products, and widespread stigma.
“About 55 percent of adolescent girls and women suffer from anaemia, and over 7.3 million are undernourished,” the minister revealed. “These health conditions are worsened by poor menstrual hygiene and the unaffordability of sanitary materials.”
The policy aims to tackle major barriers such as lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure, misinformation, and cultural taboos. It seeks to integrate menstrual health into Nigeria’s development agenda across health, education, gender, and environmental sectors.
“Menstruation should never be a source of shame or an obstacle to progress—from the cities of Lagos and Abuja to the most remote villages and IDP camps,” she said.
The policy sets a national vision for 2030: that no girl in Nigeria will have to choose between managing her menstruation and attending school, and no woman should face limitations in her personal or professional life due to her menstrual cycle.
The meeting also saw strong commitments from key development partners. Fifi Ogbondeminu, Acting Country Representative of Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, said menstrual health is a human rights and gender equality issue, not merely a health concern.
“Through PSI’s Menstrual Health No Wahala (MH-NoW) programme, we’ve helped provide affordable menstrual products and foster enabling environments to fight stigma,” said Abdulhameed Adediran, PSI’s Menstrual Health Lead, who represented her at the event.
Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, stressed the policy’s significance for infrastructure development, especially in under-resourced areas. Represented by Dr. Theodora Ngozika-Igboaneka, she said: “When menstrual health is properly addressed, schools retain girls, women participate fully in the workforce, and communities become more inclusive.”
Mrs. Mabel Adinya-Ade, a key consultant in the policy development process, highlighted that the document offers a national framework aimed at ensuring safe and dignified menstruation for all, especially vulnerable girls and women.
