Daniel Otera
Nigeria’s ongoing cholera outbreak has drawn urgent attention as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that the country is now the second worst-hit in West and Central Africa.
“Nigeria recorded 3,109 suspected cases of cholera and 86 deaths across 34 states as of the end of June,” said Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. He made the disclosure during a regional update on the disease, noting that Nigeria’s growing vulnerability reflects a failure to address systemic weaknesses in public health and sanitation.
According to UNICEF, the disease has become endemic in Nigeria due to poor sanitation, contaminated water sources, and recurrent seasonal flooding. “Cholera remains endemic in Nigeria, with the country experiencing recurrent major outbreaks in recent years,” Fagninou explained.
The agency raised alarm over the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on children, especially those under five, who face a higher risk of severe dehydration and death due to fragile immunity and limited access to safe water and hygiene.
“Young children are particularly vulnerable to cholera due to factors such as poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and a greater risk of severe dehydration,” Fagninou said.
While Nigeria’s case count is troubling, it trails the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has emerged as the epicentre of the regional crisis. As of July 2025, the DRC had recorded over 38,000 confirmed cases and 951 deaths. Notably, children under five now account for nearly 26 per cent of the DRC’s total cholera cases.
Other countries currently experiencing active epidemics include Chad, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. UNICEF has also placed Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon under close surveillance due to their vulnerability to sudden outbreaks.
Fagninou warned that the region’s rainy season, widespread flooding, and mass displacement are exacerbating the risk of rapid disease transmission, placing tens of thousands of children at heightened risk.
UNICEF has called for an urgent scale-up of cholera response efforts, saying time is running out to avert more deaths. The agency is seeking $20 million in emergency funding over the next three months to support healthcare, water and sanitation services, hygiene campaigns, and community risk communication.
“We are in a race against time, working hand in hand with authorities to deliver essential healthcare, safe water, and proper nutrition to children already at risk of deadly diseases and severe acute malnutrition,” Fagninou said.
He added that UNICEF and its partners have begun deploying emergency supplies — including oral cholera vaccines, rehydration kits, and treatment centres — to affected communities. Community education campaigns are also underway to promote early treatment-seeking and improved hygiene practices.
“Together with an array of partners, we are strengthening community engagement and extending our reach to remote and underserved areas, making every effort to ensure that no child is left behind,” Fagninou noted.
Nigeria’s struggle with cholera reflects deeper systemic failures in water and sanitation infrastructure. According to the 2021 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH-NORM) survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNICEF, only 10 per cent of Nigerians have access to safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Alarmingly, around 48 million Nigerians still practise open defecation, while only 8 per cent of the population have facilities for safe handwashing with soap and water.
An earlier 2019 WASH-NORM report showed that although 70 per cent of Nigerians had access to basic drinking water, only 44 per cent used basic sanitation facilities. UNICEF also estimates that only 26.5 per cent of households rely on improved water sources and sanitation systems.
These deficits are most pronounced in northern states like Borno, Bauchi, Kano, and Zamfara areas with historically high cholera burdens. Years of insecurity and displacement in these states have disrupted access to clean water and healthcare, creating ideal conditions for the spread of waterborne diseases.
Health experts have consistently warned that emergency responses alone are not sufficient. Without long-term investments in water infrastructure, sanitation services, and public health surveillance, Nigeria will remain trapped in a cycle of preventable outbreaks.
UNICEF reiterated that sustainable solutions are essential to breaking the link between poverty, poor infrastructure, and deadly disease.
“The cholera crisis is not just a health emergency, it is a water, sanitation, and equity crisis,” Fagninou concluded. “Until these underlying issues are addressed, Nigerian children will continue to pay the highest price.”