The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North-East Zone, has called for urgent intervention over acute shortage of potable water in some tertiary institutions in Gombe State.
The Zonal Coordinator of NANS North-East, Mr Muazu Hina, raised the concern in a statement issued on Sunday in Gombe.
Hina said students in the affected institutions were grappling with severe water shortages, describing the situation as dangerous to their health and disruptive to academic activities.
He said the crisis had been aggravated by a cankerworm infestation, which he noted had affected water sources and sanitation facilities within campuses.
“The shortage of potable water is unacceptable and poses serious health risks to students, especially with the ongoing cankerworm infestation disrupting sanitation facilities,” he said.
Hina stressed that access to clean water was a fundamental human right and essential for effective learning, urging the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to intervene without delay.
He called on the commission to deploy solar-powered boreholes and other sustainable water infrastructure to the affected institutions.
According to him, addressing water and electricity challenges in tertiary institutions falls within the core mandate of the NEDC.
Hina said that despite several appeals and engagements with the commission, the water crisis had persisted.
“Urgent action is required to prevent further deterioration of students’ welfare and institutional stability,” he said.
He reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to peaceful advocacy, noting that the association would continue to engage relevant authorities until concrete action was taken.
The association also appealed to government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to collaborate in resolving the crisis and ensuring a conducive learning environment for students in Gombe State and the North-East region.
