By Gbenga Salau
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, revealed that within six months in 2024, from January to July, 58 persons died from Cholera, maintaining that to combat cholera is not just a government responsibility, but also the active involvement of every stakeholder.
Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration ceremony and Inception meeting of the intervention project on emergency capacity building of the informal food and water vendors and waste workers in flood-affected Lagos to combat Cholera outbreaks, Sanwo-Olu, commended the Japanese government for funding the project to check Cholera outbreaks in Lagos, noted that in Nigeria, cholera remains a recurrent health crisis, with outbreaks occurring almost annually.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the governor said: “The situation reflects broader global challenges such as climate change, displacement due to conflicts, and rapid urbanization without adequate infrastructure development.
“In 2021 alone, Nigeria recorded over 100,000 suspected cholera cases and more than 3,500 deaths across 32 states—a stark reminder of the urgency required to address this issue.
“Lagos State, Nigeria’s largest urban center with a population exceeding 23 million (50.6% female), faces unique vulnerabilities due to rapid urbanization, poor water and sanitation infrastructure, and frequent flooding. In June 2024, heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding in areas such as Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe Local Government Areas—triggering a cholera outbreak that resulted in over 1,661 suspected cases, 70 confirmed cases, and 58 deaths by July. This was the largest cholera outbreak in Nigeria in 2024.”
The governor added that the initiative is a timely and critical intervention aimed at strengthening the emergency capacity of informal food and water vendors, as well as waste workers, in flood-affected areas of Lagos State.
“These individuals are frontline providers of essential services, yet they remain disproportionately vulnerable to cholera outbreaks due to their constant exposure to contaminated environments.
“I commend the General Manager and the entire team at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), alongside our esteemed partners at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), for championing this laudable project.
“I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Japan for their invaluable support in advancing public health in Lagos. This collaboration exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing pressing health challenges.”
Sanwo-Olu further said that flood-induced water contamination, poor hygiene awareness among informal vendors and waste workers, inadequate waste management overwhelmed by floods, and weak enforcement of public health regulations are key drivers of these recurring outbreaks.
