Category: Daily Trust

There was palpable fear at the weekend in Bwari town, the headquarters of the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, as well as other communities that border Niger State, when gunmen suspected to be kidnappers shot two persons to death.

Abuja Metro learned that the victims, who were killed on Friday night, were returning from Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, where they had attended a wedding ceremony.

Locals told our reporter in Abuja that the wedding guests, four in number, were on two motorcycles heading back to Garam, a community near Bwari town in the FCT but under Tafa LGA of Niger State.

They were reportedly flagged down by the gunmen around 10:30 pm at Rafin-Azum, which is not far from the Garam community, after the bandits noticed their movement as they were approaching them with the flash from the motorcycles’ light.

Dantani Daniel, Commander of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) in Garam, while chatting with Abuja Metro on the phone yesterday, disclosed that the gunmen had earlier abducted a herder from Jinkasa village, located within Dogon-Daji forest, also in the council.

He said one of the four wedding guests was able to escape at the spot, while two others were shot by the gunmen as they were attempting to escape too. ‘One of them died instantly, while the other one died at the Bwari General Hospital where he was rushed to. The remaining one person is yet to be heard of and is feared to have been taken away by the kidnappers,’ Daniel added.

He further stated that the herdsman who was first abducted by the gunmen also used the advantage of the confrontation to escape.

It was gathered that the two deceased were buried on Saturday, after a funeral prayer in the community in accordance with Islamic rites.

When contacted, the Suleja Police Area Commander, Muhammad Sani Musa, who was said to have attended the prayers, confirmed the incident to our reporter.

Palpable fear in Bwari

Meanwhile, there has been heightened fear among residents of Bwari following the resurgence of banditry activities in the council recently.

It would be recalled that the council had witnessed several attacks in many communities with many deaths and a greater number kidnapped.

Last Monday, kidnappers reportedly attacked Kungabokun, a remote community located near Byazhin-Across on the outskirts of Kubwa in the same council, killing a veterinary doctor and abducting three of his children.

A community leader in Bwari, Danteni Alhassan, said many people are now scared, fearing the return of the old situation when bandits were killing and abducting residents.

He said, ‘Let me be frank with you, there is fear among the residents now; we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. The situation is gradually escalating and something needs to be done urgently.’

Another resident, Kilani Jimoh, pleaded with the security agencies to monitor the boundaries around Niger and Kaduna states, from where he said bandits often come to attack Bwari and its villages.

FCT is safe-Wike

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reassured residents that Abuja is a safe and secure city.

The Minister gave the assurance while responding to a question about security concerns in the nation’s capital during a project inspection at the weekend.

Wike emphasized that there is improved security in the FCT compared to what was obtained in the past, stressing that isolated incidents of insecurity do not define the city’s overall safety.

‘If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city,’ the Minister stated, noting that the ‘Light Up Abuja’ program, which involves installing solar streetlights across districts and expressways, is also a strategic initiative to further enhance security.

He said, ‘The problem we have here is that when one incident happens, we forget that three months ago, nothing happened. You should give us and the security agencies credit that we are doing quite a lot to make Abuja safe, and Abuja has been safe.

‘We do agree that something may happen but that does not mean that Abuja is not safe. I don’t want us to take that to mean that the city is not safe. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is that city,’ Wike added.

The 10th season of the reality television show Big Brother Naija came to a close on Sunday, with 23-year-old Imisi Ayanwale, popularly known as Imisi, emerging as the winner.

Imisi, who enjoyed massive support from her loyal fanbase known as ‘Ijoba 606,’ clinched the title after ten weeks in the Big Brother House, beating 28 other contestants to take home the grand prize of N150 million, which includes N80 million in cash and a brand-new SUV.

She secured the win through votes from fans across Nigeria and abroad, finishing ahead of Dede Ashiogwu and Koyin Sanusi, who emerged as first and second runner-up respectively.

Her victory makes her the fourth female housemate to win the reality show since its inception, joining Mercy Eke, Phyna, and Ilebaye in the winners’ circle.

Speaking after the finale, Atinuke Babatunde, Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, described the season as ‘phenomenal.’

‘The housemates gave Nigerians unforgettable moments, and Imisi’s win is a testament to her authenticity, resilience, and ability to connect with fans,’ Babatunde said.

‘At MultiChoice, we are proud to continue creating platforms that celebrate Nigerian talent, showcase our culture, and unite audiences across Africa.’

Now in its 10th season, Big Brother Naija continues to rank as one of Africa’s most popular reality television shows, credited with producing several entertainment stars and shaping contemporary pop culture across the continent.

The Ondo State Police Command says it has nabbed 10 suspects in connection with the attempted murder of the monarch of Igoba community, Akure North Local Government Area of the state, as well as an armed robbery attack on the community.

DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the command’s spokesperson, made this known in a statement at the weekend in Akure.

Ayanlade said the suspects were arrested following the attack on one Mrs. Ogunoye Oluomo and the attempt to assassinate the community’s traditional ruler, Oba Adinlewa John, on October 2 at about 11:30 am.

According to him, on the said date, a group of hoodlums armed with firearms, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons, invaded Igoba community with the intent to wreak havoc.

The spokesperson explained that in the course of the suspects’ violent activities, Oluomo was viciously attacked, injured, and dispossessed of her belongings.

Ayanlade said the assailants further advanced to the traditional ruler’s palace in an attempt to assassinate him. Fortunately, Oba John narrowly escaped the life-threatening assault, he added.

‘Upon receipt of the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Cy Adebowale Lawal, promptly directed all necessary operational assets and manpower to the area,’ he said.

Across the world, governments are rethinking the role of digital devices in classrooms. Digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches are electronic tools that enable communication, information access, and interactive learning. While they have become central to modern education, their overuse is now under scrutiny. Countries once hailed for their rapid embrace of technology are now reversing course, citing evidence of declining attention spans, concentration, difficulty with information retention and a rise in what experts call digital dementia, a condition where overdependence on screens leads to memory lapses, poor focus, and a decline in cognitive abilities once strengthened by handwriting, deep reading, and sustained attention.

South Korea recently passed a landmark law to ban mobile phones and digital devices in classrooms beginning March 2026, after surveys revealed that more than a third of students admitted social media disrupted their daily lives and a fifth reported feeling anxious when separated from their devices. Brazil followed suit earlier this year, passing federal legislation that restricts smartphones in both public and private schools, a move already showing benefits in improved social interaction. Madrid is going even further, from September 2025, computers and tablets in primary schools will be capped at just two hours a week, with no screen-based homework. Meanwhile, the Netherlands outlawed mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches in classrooms from January 2024, and Italy expanded its classroom bans in 2025 to cover high school students, requiring devices to be locked away during lessons.

Importantly, these policies are not blanket rejections of technology. Exceptions are made for students with disabilities or specific learning needs, where digital devices serve as assistive tools to aid communication, comprehension, and inclusion in the classroom. When used thoughtfully, technology can even scaffold learning just as psychologist Lev Vygotsky emphasised in his theory of the ‘zone of proximal development.’ With proper guidance, devices can provide the right level of support to help children grasp new concepts, build skills, and bridge learning gaps.

The challenge, however, is balance. Nigeria is moving in the opposite direction of these global shifts. Instead of limiting device use, our schools are pressing forward with greater integration, encouraging students to type assignments and use screens as their primary learning tool. Handwriting, once central to cognitive development, is being quietly phased out. Yet research shows that handwriting engages multiple areas of the brain, strengthens memory, develops fine motor skills, and cultivates patience and concentration in ways typing cannot replicate. By sidelining it, we risk raising a generation that types faster but remembers less, focuses less, and thinks less deeply.

The problem is not limited to the classroom. After school, many Nigerian students return home and pick up the same devices, this time for endless scrolling through social media. What starts as three or more hours of structured device use in class extends into many more hours of unstructured use at home. This ‘double shift’ of screen exposure fragments attention, creates dependency, and gradually undermines the brain’s ability to process information in depth. Worse still, digital devices in schools are not always used for learning. Increasingly, reports from teachers worldwide draw attention to how students misuse them for bullying, gaming, or social media chats, sometimes even while lessons are in progress. Instead of enhancing focus, devices can become a gateway to distraction, ridicule, and cyber-harassment, eroding the safety and seriousness of the classroom.

Educational psychologists warn that unregulated device use in childhood and adolescence has long-term implications. They point to rising cases of poor impulse control, reduced face-to-face social skills, shortened attention spans, and sleep disorders, trends strongly linked to screen overexposure. ‘The brain is like a muscle,’ one psychologist explains. ‘When children stop exercising their memory through handwriting, storytelling, or deep reading, those neural pathways weaken. Devices give quick answers, but they do not train the brain to think critically or remember deeply.’

Global studies reinforce these concerns. School-aged children now spend an average of four to six hours daily on electronic devices, while teenagers often exceed nine hours, far above the recommended one to two hours for healthy development. This heavy use also exposes them to the hidden toxicity of blue light, which suppresses melatonin and disrupts sleep cycles. As a result, many children and teens stay up late at night, glued to glowing screens, sacrificing the deep sleep essential for memory, emotional balance, and focus.

So, what can parents do? Educational psychologists recommend setting healthy digital boundaries at home, encouraging ‘device-free zones’ such as bedrooms and dinner tables, monitoring nighttime use to prevent sleep disruption, and balancing screen time with handwriting, outdoor play, physical activity, and family conversations. Parents are also urged to model responsible digital habits themselves, since children often imitate adult behaviors. Most importantly, families can reinforce the value of handwriting by encouraging journaling, letter-writing, or note-taking, ensuring that children develop cognitive depth alongside digital literacy.

What we are witnessing is not simply a battle over teaching tools. It is about the kind of learners and citizens; we are shaping for the future. If children are trained to rely on devices for both learning and leisure without boundaries, they risk losing the very skills education is meant to build: focus, memory, patience, and critical thinking.

Digital literacy is vital in today’s world, but balance is even more crucial. Other nations are not rejecting technology outright; they are setting boundaries to safeguard young minds. Nigeria must take heed. The task before us is to prepare our children for a digital future without sacrificing their cognitive, emotional, and cultural development. That means blending, not replacing, preserving handwriting, deep reading, and face-to-face learning while using technology thoughtfully as a scaffold for growth and inclusion.

If we fail to strike this balance, we may find ourselves raising a generation that is digitally savvy but mentally scattered, more connected online but less capable of sustained thought, problem-solving, or creativity. And that is too high a price to pay for convenience.

The Abuja Continental Hotel, located in the heart of Abuja, was in a festive mood as the leadership of the North gathered to confront its challenges and unlock opportunities. The theme of the summit was ‘Unlocking Northern Nigeria’s Mining, Agricultural and Power Potential’. The two-day meeting, held under the auspices of the Northern Elders Forum, was attended by state governors, federal government ministers, members of the National Assembly, and a retinue of other officials. Industrialists, university dons, and opinion leaders from across the North were also present to help strategise for the upliftment of the North from its current state of decline.

I almost missed the event and was not present on the opening day. At the close of the first day, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was present at the event, was interviewed on Channels TV. He is one governor whom you can’t help but admire for the manner in which he has leveraged his background and exposure to turn the fortunes of his state. And he was always in one studio or the other, engaging with the public. That evening, he spoke with Seun Okinbaloye at length on what was achieved at the summit, which caught my attention.

I read the report of the first day in various print media. I found out that the governors who spoke on the first day, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dauda Lawan of Zamfara State and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, all dwelt at length on the mineral and agricultural resources that abound in their states and what they are doing to actualise these potentials for the benefit of their citizens. The major problems they face are insecurity and an infrastructure deficit. On insecurity, the Zamfara governor was blunt. He said: ‘Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe.’

On the infrastructure deficit, the Gombe State governor said: ‘We are blessed with mineral wealth, fertile land, and vibrant human capital, but without railways, roads, power, and storage, the full value cannot be realised.’ The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, spoke on behalf of the President, highlighting the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure in the North, including the delivery of gas as a strategic project for power plants. I have observed that the minister consistently attends events like this and remains engaged with the participants for as long as possible.

The next day, I was among the early arrivals at Ladi Kwali Hall, the event centre. I found the place lively, with all kinds of people milling around as the event was about to begin. Various traditional dance groups were scattered throughout, preparing to be called upon to entertain guests. Towards the sides, there were stalls staffed by representatives of northern state governments, as well as companies and industries showcasing their products. In line with the summit’s theme, the stalls displayed a range of mineral and agricultural products from the states. When I entered the hall, I saw the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, preparing to join a group already on stage to discuss and share their views on the earlier presentations.

One of the major presentations of the day was Mohammed Hayatuddeen’s paper on harnessing technology as a driver of development in Northern Nigeria. A well-regarded technocrat, Hayatuddeen served as the Group Chief Executive of the NNDC in the 1980s and later the Managing Director of FSB International Bank. It was a well-researched and well-written paper that was widely appreciated by the audience. Hayatuddeen envisions a situation in the near future- ‘a Northern Nigeria where a farmer in Mambilla can send fresh milk to Singapore in 72 hours; where our miners in Jos export not raw ore but high-value products stamped ‘ethically sourced in Nigeria,’ and our young people are building companies that compete on the world stage. This is not a fantasy; it is a choice.’ To prove that this was no whimsical thought, he took us along the path.

From Hayatuddeen’s perspective, technology is the key to unlocking the North’s potential. It would be necessary to integrate mining, agriculture, and power into a value-creating ecosystem where each sector strengthens the others. The region can then utilise emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, among others, to position the North for digital-first readiness. The North must also invest in region-wide broadband and affordable devices to connect everyone.

The presentation by Professor Ibrahim Garba on solid minerals was another high point of the summit. The professor, a geologist, had served as the Director-General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office and later Vice-Chancellor of ABU Zaria and Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil. His paper, given his expertise, was similarly well received. One thing I took away from his presentation was his assertion that during the Indigenisation Decree in the 1970s, foreign miners took their expertise and technology with them, leaving the carcass of their set-up to be taken over by their cooks and stewards. Our mining efforts have remained at that rudimentary level since then.

I left the summit with many takeaways. For the North to prosper, mining and agriculture must be modernised. The infrastructure deficit must be fixed. And the governors of the North must unite under one cover.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the German Government, in Collaboration with World Food Programme and Care Nigeria is set to empower 6,389 households in Yobe State.

The Resilience and Social Cohesion (Peace) Project is a joint initiative that seeks to restore essential services and rebuild Livelihood to drive sustainable transformation in the state.

The Area Manager Care Nigeria, Abatcha Abubakar, stated this to newsmen at state level stakeholders’ inception meeting on resilience and social cohesion (peace) held in Damaturu, Yobe State.

He said the households would be trained and empowered with agric inputs, crops processing machines and stipends to improve their Livelihood.

He added that the program was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the German Government, in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and Care Nigeria.

He further said the project goals were to increase the productivity and revenue of 6,389 smallholder farmers and households in the agriculture value chain and improve the economic status of 31,945 individuals.

According to him, the project is targeting five wards in Jakusko LGAs to ensure that those households improved their dietary diversification and access to financial services through Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLAs).

‘We implement crop production initiatives where project participants are grouped together and provided with inputs to build their resilience and self-sufficiency. Additionally, we have an Income Generating Activity (IGA) aimed at improving household finances. Through IGAs, we form groups and equip them with agro-processing machines, enabling them to generate income beyond farming.

‘Furthermore, these groups are organized into Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), a tool we use globally. VSLAs empower women to save and contribute to a collective fund, providing mutual support.

‘The initiative aims to support 6,389 households through agricultural interventions. We’ll provide seeds for crops like maize, groundnuts, and rice, focusing on wet season farming. Additionally, we will promote vegetable gardening, encouraging participants to cultivate backyard gardens.

‘This effort seeks to improve livelihoods and prevent households from falling into food insecurity. Furthermore, selected households will receive a monthly stipend for six months. We’re also constructing warehouses to support these initiatives,’ he said.

In his remark, the Head of World Food Programme, Damaturu Sub Office, Yobe State, Mr. Owen Maganga, said the WFP is committed to support the Livelihoods of farmers in the Northeastern region.

In a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in the walls of stainless cups, body cream, and hair gel containers.

The operations led to the arrest of five suspects and, ultimately, the suspected arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who poses as a businessman and real estate developer.

A statement by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s spokesperson, noted that the beginning of the end of the criminal syndicate’s operations started on September 16, 2025, when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilograms concealed in the walls of cocoa butter body cream containers. A cargo agent was promptly arrested. According to him, further investigations revealed Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode as the mastermind of the shipment.

He added that after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 Headquarters of the Police in Lagos, after which the Agency sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody.

During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment, which he claimed he bought for over N150 million.

Babafemi said the suspect claimed to be a businessman and estate developer, having returned from the United Kingdom in 2024.

According to him, he had lived for over 27 years in many European countries, including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, before settling in the UK.

In a like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also thwarted by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

The unravelling of the gang started on September 26 following the seizure of 2.10kg of cocaine concealed in the walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

According to the NDLEA’s spokesperson, the arrest of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday, September 30, at his 3, Arowojobe Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, base where another consignment of 1.40kg of cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.

”That same day, another consignment of 1.00kg of cocaine with a similar mode of concealment, also going to the UK, was intercepted at the export shed of the airport. The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith David Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect,” Babafemi added.

The University of Calabar has been officially named the host of the 2026 Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games, marking the return of the country’s premier university sports festival to Calabar after 35 years.

The announcement was made by Dr. Michael Ajibua, Acting President of NUGA, alongside Mr. Yunusa Bazza, Secretary-General, and Prof. Musa Yakasai, Chairman of the Technical Committee.

The formal presentation of the hosting rights took place at the office of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, in the presence of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by Papa Enamhe and other key stakeholders.

Before the official declaration, the NUGA delegation conducted a comprehensive inspection tour of proposed venues, including the U.J. Esuene Sports Complex, St. Patrick’s College, and several facilities within the University of Calabar campus such as the Abraham Ordia Stadium, tennis and basketball courts, multipurpose halls, and swimming pool.

One of the highlights of the tour was the unveiling of the university’s newly constructed tennis court, which Dr. Ajibua described as ‘the best in any Nigerian university.’ He praised the university’s preparedness, noting that ‘the institution already has world-class facilities capable of hosting the Games within six months.’

Prof. Yakasai echoed this confidence, revealing that ’90 per cent of the facilities are already in place,’ and expressed optimism that UNICAL would deliver ‘the best NUGA Games in history,’ just as it did in 1990.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu, who pledged the state government’s full support under Governor Bassey Otu. She described the return of the Games as ‘a welcome innovation aligned with the administration’s people-focused agenda.’

In her remarks, an elated Prof. Obi thanked NUGA for the trust reposed in the institution, assuring that the University of Calabar would continue upgrading its facilities to international standards. She promised that ‘the 2026 Games will exceed expectations and reaffirm UNICAL’s place in Nigerian university sports history.’

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have neutralized two suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition from them.

It was learned that the incident happened in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased were reportedly killed in a gun battle with the police in collaboration with vigilantes and local hunters during a bush-combing operation.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, said the police, acting on intelligence in collaboration with local hunters and a vigilante group, encountered suspected kidnappers during a bush-combing operation along the railway track leading to Ubiaja.

He said the kidnappers, upon sighting the police, opened fire on them, adding that in the process, two suspected kidnappers were killed while others escaped with injuries.

He said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, 33 rounds of live ammunition, and two mobile phones from them.

He added that the police also recovered an English-made double-barreled shotgun and two live cartridges while combing a forest around Idumogun Community in the Ukoni area of Esan South East LGA during another bush-combing operation.

He appealed to the public to support the command’s community safety partnership initiative and informal policing efforts in ensuring a safer Edo State.

A total of 4,778 people died of cholera in Nigeria between 2020 and 2024, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Within this year alone, over 300 deaths have been recorded, including the 179 fatalities which, according to a statement at the weekend by the Zamfara State Government, were recorded out of 12,052 suspected cases in the state as of September 2025.

Two weeks ago, Bauchi State Deputy Governor Auwal Mohammed Jatau confirmed 58 fresh deaths from 258 new cases across 14 local government areas of the state.

The surge in cholera deaths is happening despite billions of naira reportedly spent by the government and international partners to curb the waterborne disease.

These funds include annual budgetary allocations running to millions of naira; a $700 million World Bank loan secured to provide water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities across the country; $2 million United Nations’ aid; hundreds of thousands of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) doses donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), among others.

Figures obtained from the NCDC showed that in 2020, the country recorded 3,513 suspected cases and 95 deaths (5.3% Case Fatality Ratio, CFR). The toll jumped sharply in 2021 with 111,062 suspected cases and 3,604 deaths across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Caused by Vibrio cholerae bacterium, cholera is an acute diarrhea infection transmitted mainly through contaminated food and water and fuelled by poor sanitation. The outbreak peaks during the rainy season, from May to October, as flooding and contaminated water sources worsen the spread. Cholera symptoms include excessive watery stooling, muscle cramps, severe dehydration and vomiting. The disease can be treated with oral rehydration solution and antibiotics, but can lead to death within hours if left untreated.

The year 2021 saw a steep jump in suspected cases to 111,062, including 3,604 deaths (3.2% CFR) from 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with children between 5 and 14 years of age most affected.

Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano and Zamfara states accounted for 53 percent of all cases.

In 2022, the mortality figures dropped to 592, with 2.5% CFR, out of 23,763 suspected cases reported from 32 states and the FCT, with Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba and Kano states recording 83 percent of all cases.

Of the 3,683 suspected cholera cases reported in 2023 in 31 states, 128 deaths (3.5% CFR) were recorded, with children less than five years most affected, followed by those between the ages of 5 and 14. Zamfara accounted for 25% of all suspected cases; while Cross Rivers, Katsina, Bayelsa, Ogun, Ebonyi and Niger recorded 57%.

The numbers rose again in 2024 to 10,837 suspected cases and 359 deaths (3.3% CFR) reported across the 36 states as of September 29, which was the last update by the NCDC on cholera outbreaks for that year. Also, children less than five years of age were most affected, followed by those between the ages of 5 and 14. Lagos recorded 43% of all suspected cases.

In July this year, while launching what it tagged an urgent $20 million appeal to fight cholera in Nigeria, other West African countries and Central Africa, the UNICEF regional director, Gilles Fagninou, said: ‘As of the end of June, Nigeria recorded 3,109 suspected cholera cases and 86 deaths across 34 states.’

He said that the number of suspected cases made Nigeria the second most affected country in West and Central Africa.

‘Heavy rains, widespread flooding, and the high level of displacement are all fuelling the risk of cholera transmission and putting the lives of children at risk. Young children are particularly vulnerable to cholera due to factors such as poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and access to safe water, and a greater risk of severe dehydration,’ he stated.

How we lost them within hours – Families

What began as a pleasurable outing for Musa Aliyu’s wife and her three children ended in tears for the family after they attended a wedding ceremony in their neigbourhood in Bauchi metropolis. A few hours after they ate food at the event, they started vomiting and defecating at intervals.

‘My wife and three children were infected after they ate at a marriage ceremony in Bauchi. My youngest daughter first got infected before two other children, as well as their mother,’ Musa, a resident of Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, had told Daily Trust.

While others were lucky to survive the episode, 5-year-old Muhammad Aliyu succumbed. Four years on, his death has left an indelible scar on the family.

That year, 2021, in Bauchi, the disease turned Fatima’s seven children, whose father had died two years earlier, into orphans. Fatima’s sister, Anisha Saidu, who lives in the Kofar Ran area, explained that she died a few hours after she began to show symptoms of cholera.

‘We were shocked by her condition because she did not show any symptoms the previous day. It was not more than four hours after she started vomiting and purging when she died. Her death threw us into mourning. She left behind seven orphans without anyone to cater for them because their father died two years ago,’ Saidu revealed.

Zainab Yusuf, a mother of four from Abinsi community in Benue State, recounted how she lost one of her three children to cholera which affected four members of the family, including her, almost at the same time.

‘I was diagnosed with cholera alongside three of my children. I was so worried about our health. I was unable to take care of them because we were all on admission at the same time. Unfortunately, I lost one of my children to the disease. Although I am still sad about losing my child, I am grateful to Allah for the help we got from the state government and the WHO. If not for their timely intervention, we would all have died,’ she recalled.

In 2018, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari declared a state of emergency in the WASH sector by launching the National Action Plan for Revitalizing the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to improve the living standards in the rural and urban areas. The plan complemented the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme launched two years earlier to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Buhari said access to piped water services and improved sanitation, which stood at 32% and 38% in 1990, had declined to 7% and 29% respectively in 2015, noting that Nigeria ranked second in the global rating on open defecation, ‘as about 25% of our population are practicing open defecation.’

The Nigerian government in December 2021 secured a $700 million loan from the World Bank to implement water projects across the country.

The then Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, had said: ‘We have been able to generate from the World Bank $700m. This money is not going to be spent by the Federal Government; it is going to the states for them to improve their water supply situation. What Nigerians need to understand is that the Federal Government is not responsible for providing water in their taps; that is the responsibility of state governments and that is why we don’t have a federal water board.’

International partners had also extended humanitarian support to Nigeria in managing cholera in recent years. The UN, through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, released $2 million to sustain the response to a cholera outbreak in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in 2018.

The WHO donated 1.3 million doses of oral cholera vaccine to Bauchi in three years – 600,000 doses in 2018 and 700,000 doses in 2021 – to fight outbreaks in high-risk areas of the state.

Last year, the UNICEF also donated 600,000 doses of oral vaccine to Borno State to stem a cholera outbreak following devastating floods caused by Alau Dam collapse. The donation also included acute water diarrhea kits and hospital beds worth $69,000, said UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria Rownak Khan.

At a media roundtable held in August at the Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention in Calabar, Cross River State, the Director of Cochrane Nigeria, Professor Angela Oyo-Ita, said lack of access to clean water and low public awareness are key drivers of the cholera outbreak.

Oyo-Ita, who is also a professor of Community Medicine and Chief Consultant, Public Health, University of Calabar (UNICAL), said cholera remained a major public health threat in Nigeria, especially in communities affected by poor sanitation and seasonal flooding.

‘Safe water is the number one prevention against diseases. Any government that provides clean water for its people has done great. Then came vaccines. You can’t do without water,’ she said.

Delivering a lecture titled ‘An Overview of Cholera,’ a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ekong Udoh, said climate change had exacerbated cholera outbreaks, with flooding contributing to contamination of drinking water.

According to him, about 75% of infected people show no symptoms but can still spread the bacteria through their stool for up to two weeks, maintaining that while vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling outbreaks, access to clean water and sanitation remain the most effective long-term solutions to cholera.

FG’s move to crush cholera

In a renewed move against cholera, the Federal Government in February launched the National Strategic Plan of Action on Cholera Control (NSPACC) 2025-2029, with a commitment to spend $124m – with an annual budget of $20m – on eradicating cholera in Nigeria through a multi-sectoral approach.

The plan also aims to reduce annual cholera incidence and deaths by 90% and lower CFR to below 1% by 2029.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Daju Kachallom, had said: ‘Cholera has been eradicated in other parts of the world, why is it still affecting Nigeria? We must act collectively to change this reality,’ he said.

Experts seek review of strategies

Experts say that to truly eliminate cholera and reduce outbreaks, there is a need for the government and other stakeholders to review their strategies and do things differently.

Dr Rotimi Adesanya, a public health physician and Medical Director, Federal College of Education, Akoka Medical Centre, Lagos, said the government had been spending a lot on cholera management, but achieved little results, urging that community participation is crucial to scaling up impacts.

‘In whatever you are doing, you have to carry the community along. They should be part and parcel of the technology or innovation you are bringing. For example, if the government puts a water closet toilet in a rural area, they may not accept it because they are not used to such things. You have to look for a kind of toilet, like a pit latrine, that is culturally acceptable to them.

A Professor of Public Health and Environmental Health at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof Agwu Nkwa Amadi, called for a public-private partnership to provide sustainable WASH infrastructure development, such as stable water supply systems, toilets, and waste disposal mechanisms, particularly in high-risk areas.

‘We also need to strengthen health systems and surveillance, improve epidemiological surveillance and early warning systems for quick detection and response, urgently employ environmental health officers and equip health centres with resources to manage cases promptly.

‘There is also a need for community-led total sanitation and hygiene education; engage community health-based workers such as environmental health officers and community health environmental workers, volunteers, traditional rulers, and schools in continuous hygiene campaigns.

‘The government also needs to encourage behavioural changes around handwashing, water storage, and open defecation; provide incentives; enforce penalties in communities where open defecation persists and deploy vaccines strategically in endemic and high-risk zones, combined with WASH interventions.’

Prof Amadi further advised that cholera control must become a national development priority, not just a health sector problem, noting that cholera task forces should be established at the state level with accountability mechanisms.

‘Nigeria must shift from short-term emergency responses to long-term structural solutions if it hopes to end the cycle of recurrent cholera outbreaks,’ he added.

A medical doctor at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College of Medical Sciences, Bauchi, Dr Aminu Tukur Sulaiman, said individuals and communities must be properly sensistised to how cholera is transmitted and why they should defecate in latrines or water closets, ‘where these [harmful) particles cannot go into our food particles.’

‘Once we control defecation, the community will be safe, because basically, when we do open defecation, especially with the rainy season, water will wash our gutters, our surroundings, and take these particles to our homes and farmlands, and then the bacteria can infect our food particles and water. Clean your gutters and ensure that water does not overflow and get into houses,’ he added.

Sulaiman urged communities to practise good hand hygiene through thorough handwashing after using the toilet and before handling food or drinking water.

‘Avoid eating by roadsides, particularly where there is no good sanitation and people don’t exercise good hygiene. These are things we need to avoid to ensure that we have a free cholera society,’ he said.