Published: March 7, 2025
Fendal – Scores of students at the state-run University of Liberia’s Fendall Campus have raised serious concerns over the appalling condition of the university’s restrooms. According to the students, the poor sanitation is not only a threat to their health but is also negatively impacting the overall learning environment.
The students lamented that the bathrooms lack essential sanitary materials such as tissue, chlorine, soap, and even water to flush toilets. As a result, the facilities are often left unclean, producing a foul odor that spreads across the campus and poses serious health risks.
Diamond Soward, a student of Communication and Media Studies, described the condition of the bathrooms as deplorable, warning that it poses a high risk of infections, especially for female students. She stressed that falling ill due to poor sanitation could force students to miss classes for days.
“The bathrooms are in terrible condition, especially for female students. If you find a toilet closed, don’t even try opening it because people often use it and leave it unflushed,” Soward noted.
Similarly, Famata Kromah, a Social Work major, emphasized that the absence of water and proper toilet waste disposal is a potential trigger for disease outbreaks.
“Imagine students having to provide their own toilet tissues just to use the bathrooms,” Kromah added.
Sakajipo Chea, a Secondary Education student, echoed these concerns, saying that the small plastic bottles placed in the bathrooms as an alternative water source are inadequate and do not reflect the standards of the country’s premier state university. He called for urgent intervention.
“Not just the poor sanitary condition of the bathrooms, but the inadequate number of restrooms is also affecting learning here. Students often have to wait in long lines to use the bathroom, even when their class time is running out,” he said.
Speaking with reporters, student Adna Russ expressed her frustration, describing the situation as disheartening and unhealthy. She explained that students are often forced to use unflushed toilets due to the lack of water, making it uncomfortable to concentrate in class.
Meanwhile, Hans Nyephan argued that students should not be blamed for the poor maintenance of the restrooms. He asserted that it is the administration’s responsibility to provide a safe and hygienic learning environment. Nyephan called on the new president of the University of Liberia to prioritize restroom improvements, citing the growing student population at Fendell.
As concerns mount, students are urging the university administration to take immediate action in addressing the sanitation crisis on campus. The issue has frequently been among the grievances raised by students protesting for better learning conditions at the University of Liberia, yet little to no effort has been made by previous administrations to resolve the appalling situation.
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