Key Points

• The NCDC has placed Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara on high alert after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency forecast heavy rainfall and flooding across those states between April 13 and 17.
• National surveillance data already show rising cholera cases, and the agency warns that flooding could rapidly worsen transmission by contaminating drinking water and disrupting sanitation systems.
• NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said state governments are being supported to activate multisectoral emergency frameworks in water, sanitation and hygiene, while residents are urged to boil water, avoid floodwater contact and seek care immediately if symptoms develop.

Nigeria’s top public health agency has placed 10 states on high alert for a cholera outbreak, warning that incoming floods are colliding with the start of the country’s peak disease transmission season in ways that could rapidly turn an already rising caseload into a public health emergency.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention issued the alert after projections from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency indicated that Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara states would experience intense rainfall between April 13 and 17, 2026.

NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said the warning arrives at a critical point in the public health calendar, noting that early surveillance data already show increasing cholera infections across several states.

Floods and disease: a recurring combination

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. It spreads quickly in areas with unsafe water, poor sanitation and during flooding, and can cause severe dehydration and death if not treated promptly.

In Nigeria, the disease is endemic and seasonal, with outbreaks occurring almost every year, particularly during the rainy and flood seasons.

Idris warned that beyond cholera, the affected states also face heightened risks of other diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, illnesses linked to contact with contaminated floodwater, injuries including drowning and snakebites, as well as disruptions in access to healthcare services, particularly in rural communities.

“Recent national surveillance data show increasing cholera activity across multiple states,” the NCDC statement read. “Flooding during this period can rapidly increase the risk of disease outbreaks due to contamination of drinking water sources, disruption of sanitation systems, and increased exposure of communities to unsafe environmental conditions. Importantly, these risks are preventable with early action.”

What residents must do now

The NCDC asked residents in the affected states to use only safe water for drinking and cooking by boiling, chlorinating or using bottled water, wash hands frequently with soap and clean water especially before eating and after using the toilet, avoid contact with floodwater as much as possible, and maintain proper sanitation including safe disposal of waste and the avoidance of open defecation.

Residents were also advised to handle and store food safely to prevent contamination, sleep under insecticide-treated nets to reduce mosquito bites, and seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility if they experience diarrhoea, vomiting or fever.

Government coordination underway

Idris said the NCDC is working closely with state ministries of health to strengthen surveillance systems, improve readiness and support rapid response mechanisms in high-risk areas. State governments have been advised to activate multisectoral emergency frameworks, particularly in water, sanitation and hygiene services.

He called on community leaders to intensify environmental sanitation efforts, including clearing blocked drainage systems and promoting hygiene awareness at the grassroots level.

The broader flood picture is stark. The federal government’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook identified more than 14,000 communities across 33 states as flood-prone, with 405 local government areas across 35 states falling within moderate flood risk zones.

Analysts warn that without sustained investment in resilient water and sanitation infrastructure, flood-related disease outbreaks will remain a persistent and predictable threat, particularly in Nigeria’s most vulnerable states.

Health authorities stressed that vigilance, early intervention and community cooperation are critical to preventing avoidable illness and deaths in the weeks ahead.