Stakeholders from Government, the Private sector and Civil society gathered in Lagos for the two-day Nigeria Menstrual Health Forum to tackle period poverty through tax reforms, strict product standards and manufacturing incentives.
Driven by severe inflation, the cost of menstrual pads in Nigeria has surged from ₦200–₦400 three years ago to ₦500–₦750 or more per pack, forcing 37 million women and girls into period poverty.
According to UNICEF data, 24% of Nigerian schoolgirls regularly miss classes due to a lack of affordable menstrual products and adequate school sanitation facilities. Facing steep prices, many resort to unsafe alternatives such as unhygienic cloth, mattress foam, and reused materials exposing them to severe health risks.
Organized under the UN’s “Unlocking Women’s Power” regional initiative, the forum brought together UNFPA Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF).
Key policy strategies discussed include Fiscal and Tax Relief by Pushing for tax cuts on raw materials and imported products to drive down consumer costs. They also reccomended adopting the Africa Regional Standard and pursuing ISO TC 338 certification to guarantee product safety and safety surveillance.
A National Policy Roadmap for the Implementation of the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) 2025–2030 to protect marginalized communities was part of deliberations.
They also sued for alignment with the federal government’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to boost local production.
Gender and GBV Management Specialist , UNFPA, Dr. Zubaida Abubakar explained that the forum marks a turning point in Nigeria’s menstrual health landscape. By driving standards and policy reform, we aim to dismantle barriers to access, ensure dignity for women and girls, and unlock opportunities for education, health and empowerment.
On his Part, Director General of SON, believes the challenge before the country is not simply how to make menstrual products available,but how to ensure that the products available are safe, fit for purpose, consistently produced, accessible and affordable, while creating an enabling environment for manufacturers to innovate, invest and grow
Advocates emphasized that period poverty is not merely a personal health issue, but a major barrier to education, gender equality, and national economic growth. Lowering market prices and establishing strict safety standards remain critical steps toward restoring dignity to millions of Nigerian women and girls.
