By Fauziyyah Hadi
The smell hits you first sharp, sour, impossible to ignore. Across Kano, from university hostels to motor parks and markets, the simple act of using a toilet has become a challenge. Wet floors, broken doors, empty buckets, and blocked drains turn what should be a basic necessity into a daily battle for thousands of residents and students.
At Bayero University Kano’s female hostels, where hundreds rely on shared toilets every day, the situation is no different.
“One word to describe these toilets is disgusting,”
says Hauwa, a BUK student who has grown used to carrying her own water anytime she needs to use the restroom.
For her and many others, the biggest problem isn’t the crowding it’s the absence of running water, the very thing that makes hygiene possible.
"We Clean Every Day, But the Mess Never Ends,"
Behind these facilities are the cleaners mostly women who begin their work before most students wake up. Their voices carry exhaustion and resignation.
"We come here to clean every day, but the things we see… it’s too much,” one cleaner says, shaking her head.
"Sanitary pads on the floor, urine on tiles, feces in corners, blocked sinks the list goes on. Even after hours of scrubbing and disinfecting, the toilets revert to the same state almost immediately," said another cleaner, who asked not to mentioned her name.
The problem, according to some of the workers seperately interviewed by our reporter, is improper use and careless waste disposal. “We risk our health dealing with this,” another adds.
Accordingly, it was observed that many students ignore waste bins, leaving used pads behind doors or beside toilet seats. For workers who earn so little, the job has quietly become a daily health hazard.
"Assign Inspection Officers — And Fine Offenders”
Aliyu, a security officer who has watched this issue grow over time, believes accountability is the missing piece.
"People might have urgent need to use the toilet, but they don’t use it properly,” he says. “It’s causing a lot of health issues.”
His solution is simple:
Assign inspection officers to major toilet facilities and fine anyone who leaves a mess behind.
The security officer emphasised further that "consistent consequences can change behavior quickly."
A Public Health Problem Hiding in Plain Sight
Experts warn that poorly maintained toilets are breeding grounds for diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and diarrheal infections.
The combination of stagnant water, human waste, and direct hand contact creates the perfect environment for bacteria.Environmental health professionals often stress two points:
Running water is the backbone of toilet hygiene.
Toilet surfaces — handles, taps, seats carry the highest microbial load in public spaces. Without water to flush and clean, even a newly built facility becomes unsafe within days.
Kano’s hot weather only makes it worse, accelerating bacterial growth and intensifying the stench.
Across Kano, the Story Is the Same. What happens inside BUK hostels reflects a broader problem.
At Farm Centre, Yankura Market, Hotoro, motor parks, and even gas stations, toilets follow the same pattern: broken taps, wet floors, empty buckets outside, and frustrated users.
Many residents say they avoid public toilets unless it’s an emergency a habit that can cause health complications, especially for women who hold urine for long hours.
Reacting on the development, a Kano resident, Hauwa believes that the solution is straightforward. “There should be running water available and staff who monitor the cleaning,” she says.
“Warnings should be pasted so people know the toilets must be kept clean.”
Similarly, other residents interviewed across different corners in Kano echoed the same concerns, calling for a system that combines cleanliness, monitoring, and user responsibility.
Where Do We Go From Here ?
Kano’s public toilet crisis is more than a sanitation issue it reflects habits, infrastructure, and collective responsibility. The cleaners are trying. Users are frustrated.
Although health experts from their part, are sounding alarms. Yet the toilet doors keep revealing the same truth: if nothing changes, nothing gets clean.
Perhaps the solution starts with the basics flowing water, functioning waste bins, and clear instructions.
To rid away of the problem, experts suggested that the inspection officers should be enforcing fines on defaulters. But most importantly, advised people to use public toilets the way they expect to find them: clean, functional, and safe. Until then, every toilet trip in Kano remains a small test of patience and hygiene.
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