The Niger State Government is seeking help to contain a deadly cholera outbreak that has claimed 13 lives and left at least 236 people hospitalised, raising significant concerns about a possible nationwide public health emergency.
The fast-moving bacterial disease has now spread across six local government areas, prompting urgent containment efforts by state health authorities.
The outbreak was first detected on Sunday in Shiroro LGA, but it has since escalated, affecting Bosso, Minna, Magama, Bida, and Munya LGAs. According to state officials, the epicentres of the outbreak remain Chanchaga (Minna), Bosso, and Shiroro, which have recorded the highest number of cases.
Niger State’s Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, announced on Wednesday that the government has launched an aggressive, multi-sectoral response to control the situation. “Our goal is to contain this outbreak before it snowballs into a larger epidemic,” he said.
In addition to emergency treatment and surveillance measures, the state government has set up isolation centres in each of the affected areas. One major facility was opened at the old wing of the Late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Primary Healthcare Centre along Old Airport Road in Minna to serve as a central isolation hub.
Health officials are working in tandem with religious and traditional institutions to scale up public awareness about the disease. Dr. Dangana said the government’s communication campaign is targeting religious bodies including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Islamic groups, and the eight emirates across Niger State.
He praised Governor Umaru Bago for taking swift action in deploying resources and expressed gratitude to local and international donor agencies for supporting the state’s health response. “Without this level of intervention, the situation could have spiraled out of control within days,” he noted.
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Cholera, a highly contagious disease typically caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, can kill within hours if untreated. Common symptoms include severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and muscle cramps. The disease thrives in environments with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water—conditions that are prevalent in many rural communities in Niger State.
The Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Idris, confirmed that the state’s health system is under pressure due to the speed at which the disease is spreading. “Minna, Bosso, and Shiroro are currently our biggest concern zones. We have mobilised medical personnel and supplies to these areas, but we are monitoring all other LGAs closely,” Dr. Idris said.
Reports indicate that many residents in affected communities are now reluctant to drink from communal water sources or eat outside the home, as fear of infection spreads. Public schools in some LGAs have started issuing hygiene warnings and are encouraging students to come to school with their own drinking water.
The federal government has not yet declared a national emergency, but the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is expected to release a detailed advisory and deploy rapid response teams should the situation escalate beyond Niger State.
