The Federal Government has issued a warning that the ongoing rainfall and consequent flooding could exacerbate the spread of cholera in Nigeria. Joseph Terlumun, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted this concern during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, July 4, 2024. He reported that since the outbreak, there have been 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases of cholera.

Recent heavy rains have already caused flooding in various parts of the country. Terlumun emphasized the need for states and local governments to intensify their efforts to prevent flood-related disasters as the peak of the flooding season approaches. He noted that several areas, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have experienced significant flooding, resulting in casualties, displacement of people, and property loss.

The minister clarified that the release of water from dams, a common cause of floods in Nigeria, has not yet occurred this year. He urged Nigerians living near waterways to prepare for river flooding expected to start this month. States likely to be affected by impending floods include Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT.

Terlumun recommended that states and local governments clear blocked drainage systems and canals, relocate people living along waterways, and desilt river channels to manage runoff water effectively. This advice came two days after Jide Idris, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), listed Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta as the top ten states affected by the cholera outbreak.