Nigeria Ranks Second In Cholera Cases In West And Central Africa —UNICEF
THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has ranked Nigeria as the second-most affected country by cholera in West and Central Africa, with over 3,000 suspected cases and dozens of deaths reported in the first half of 2025.
UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gilles Fagninou, disclosed this on Wednesday, warning that the outbreak has become endemic in Nigeria, with the country experiencing repeated large-scale outbreaks in recent years.
“As of the end of June, Nigeria recorded 3,109 suspected cholera cases and 86 deaths across 34 states,” Fagninou said.
He described the situation as a growing crisis for children, with an estimated 80,000 children across the region currently at high risk as the rainy season intensifies. He attributed the increased risk to factors such as flooding, poor sanitation, displacement, and inadequate access to clean water.
“Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water. It can be treated with oral rehydration and antibiotics, but it can be fatal within hours if left untreated,” Fagninou explained.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains the hardest-hit country in the region, reporting more than 38,000 cases and 951 deaths in July alone. Children under five now make up nearly 26 per cent of cases in the DRC, raising concerns of a potential crisis not seen since 2017.
Other countries experiencing active cholera outbreaks include Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. Fagninou also listed Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon among nations under close surveillance due to their vulnerability to outbreaks.
In response, UNICEF has ramped up emergency support across affected areas. The agency has provided life-saving health, water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies, as well as treatment facilities. Cholera vaccination campaigns and hygiene promotion initiatives have also been launched.
“We are in a race against time, working hand in hand with the authorities to deliver essential healthcare, safe water, and proper nutrition to children already at risk of deadly diseases and severe malnutrition,” Fagninou said.
UNICEF is calling for $20 million in urgent funding over the next three months to scale up health interventions, risk communication, and community engagement efforts aimed at containing the spread of the disease across West and Central Africa.
