For students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), it is a battle for survival with mosquitoes turning the nights into a battle ground. Thus, they wear multiple layers of clothing to protect themselves from the bloodthirsty mosquitoes. HASSAN TEMITAYO(UDUS) reports.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) is situated in the heart of the northwestern part of Nigeria, a region known for its intense heat and extreme cold. For residents, the rainy season is more bearable compared to other seasons. Sadly, they, alongside students have to contend with bloodthirsty mosquitoes.
The reason for this seasonal fluctuation in mosquitoes population is not far to seek. There are tall millet crops planted around student residential areas during rainy seasons, providing more breeding sites for insects.
Olagunju Kabir Oladeji, a final-year Law student, has observed a troubling rise in mosquito activity around the millet fields during the rainy season. He avoids the area completely, believing it increases the risk of malaria.
“The mosquitoes are unbearable. They disrupt night classes and make studying at night almost impossible. I’ve had to use insecticide and sleep under a mosquito net, but even that doesn’t fully help,” he said.
Kabir noted that either he or his friends have recently suffered from mosquito-borne illnesses. He firmly believes that the university should remove or relocate the millet fields.
“It would be a welcome development. Walking near the millet field at night is dangerous. The tall crops make it easy for mosquitoes and even criminals to hide,” he added.
Olatunji Yusuf of the Department of Public Administration, said students residing near the millet fields in the Benji area, are experiencing a significant and alarming increase in mosquito activity during this rainy season.
Yusuf significantly noted that the situation is severely disrupting their daily routines and poses a serious health risk to the community.
He stressed that the prevalence of mosquitoes has created an environment that is not conducive to academic pursuits or personal well-being.
Jamiu Oloyin, an Accounting student confirmed that there is usually a significant increase in mosquito activity around the millet fields during the rainy season.
Jamiu stated that to protect himself, he has taken personal measures such as using a mosquito net and applying mosquito repellent to his body. However, these precautions proved insufficient, as he personally contracted malaria and was sick for approximately five days.
Given his experience, he believes that removing the millet crop from the area would be a suitable course of action by the university.
According to a report by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), people get malaria when bitten by an infective mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. This means an already infected anopheles (female mosquito) spreads malaria by biting a perfectly healthy person.
Maryam Umar Ayomide, a 400-Level Law student, also avoids the millet fields entirely not only because of the mosquitoes but because she believes the area has become a hideout for criminals.
“I don’t go to night classes anymore.The area is too risky. The mosquitoes are terrible, and the crops provide cover for people with bad intentions,” she said.
Maryam protects herself by wearing socks and covering her body completely. She, too, has experienced or witnessed malaria among her peers and believes the university must act quickly.
Lamaz Arisekola, another 400-Level Law student, expressed displeasure over the situation.
“Avoiding the millet fields is impossible; the crops surround the hostels and even reach their entrances,” he said.
Lamaz said this affects students’ academic life significantly, as they cannot read or study for long without being bitten by mosquitoes. He noted that despite wearing nylon socks, thick trousers, and long sleeves, the mosquitoes persist.
“I’ve been here for three years.
No protection can stop these mosquitoes completely. The school clinic is full of sick students. I’m also a victim,” he said.
According to the Severe Malaria Observatory (2024 World Malaria Report), Nigeria bears the highest global burden of malaria accounting for 25.9 per cent of all estimated cases and 30.9 per cent of global malaria deaths. This is an adverse impact of farming in residential areas which brought mosquitoes and subsequently-malaria.
Lamaz urged the university to remove the millet fields, emphasising that “different settings require different purposes; a residential area cannot serve as farmland.”
He also warned that walking through the fields at night is unsafe, as the tall millet stalks give cover to criminals who often rob students of their phones and valuables.
Rofiah Abdullah, a 400-Level Agriculture student, has also noticed the growing mosquito menace.
“The problem worsens during the rainy season,” she explained. “The millet fields attract mosquitoes, and they’ve also become a hiding place for ‘Yaro boys’ young men who rob and harass students.”
The threat, she added, has discouraged many students from attending night tutorials.
“My roommate and I recently recovered from malaria,” she said. “This isn’t just about comfort, it’s about health and safety. The university should really assess the situation and consider moving the crops or creating better safety measures.”
Night classes that once buzzed with activity are now nearly empty. Sellers around Benji close their shops early, unable to bear the evening swarm of mosquitoes.
Ridwanullahi Ayobami of the Education and Chemistry Department noted that the mosquito problem around the millet fields has become too much, to the extent that you can’t even sit down outside.
He said : “I absolutely avoid the area, primarily because the bushy environment creates a perfect habitat for dangerous animals like snakes, which now have a higher chance of being there”.
This situation has directly affected his studies. He makes sure to read inside the school in the afternoon whenever he doesn’t have lectures, as he has completely stopped reading at night.
He also said to protect himself from mosquitoes in his room, he uses a mosquito net and sprays insecticides regularly.
A statement by Zakariyau Dauda, Founder of UDUS Antimicrobial Resistance Stewards, said the situation poses both direct and indirect risks to students.
“The direct risks include a high incidence of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, leading to symptoms like severe fatigue, anemia, and various skin and allergic reactions. The indirect effects are a significant economic and social burden due to frequent illness and healthcare costs, coupled with reduced focus, comfort, and productivity that impairs cognitive function and academic performance.
“However, from the perspective of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) stewardship, this issue presents an even more insidious threat. The high frequency of malaria infections leads to a corresponding increase in the consumption of antimalarial drugs.
“In an environment of self-medication and incomplete treatment courses common among students seeking a quick return to classes we create perfect conditions for the selection of drug-resistant malaria parasites. This misuse and overuse of antimalarials is a primary driver of AMR, rendering first-line treatments ineffective and escalating the risk of severe complications and mortality. “Therefore, the millet fields are not merely a nuisance but a significant public health challenge. They act as an epidemiological trigger for a cascade of negative outcomes, from immediate academic disruption to the long-term, global threat of fostering drug-resistant strains of disease. Addressing this breeding ground is not just about student comfort; it is a critical intervention for disease prevention and a vital act of antimicrobial stewardship to protect the efficacy of our essential medicines.”
