Cholera outbreak worsens in Borno, 37 deaths as senators call for a national emergency response.

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — Senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, acting through the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), have expressed condolences to victims of the cholera outbreak in Borno State and called for immediate action to curb the disease.

The rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in Borno State has claimed 37 lives and infected more than 3,000 people across seven local government areas, prompting northern lawmakers to demand a coordinated national emergency response.

In a statement released yesterday night in Abuja, Chairman of the forum Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, described the outbreak as a “serious and unfolding public health emergency” that requires urgent and sustained intervention from federal and state authorities.

The Senators expressed deep concern over the spread of the disease in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area, which have become the epicentres of the outbreak, with infections also reported in Mafa, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala and Magumeri.

They noted that rising case numbers are already straining health infrastructure, particularly in communities with limited access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The Senators urged the Federal Government to deploy emergency medical teams, strengthen disease surveillance systems, and supply essential treatment materials to affected areas to prevent further deaths.

The Upper Chamber also called for an urgent rollout of oral cholera vaccines in high‑risk locations, especially internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, which were identified as particularly vulnerable due to overcrowding and poor sanitation conditions.

Lawmakers added that beyond immediate medical response, large‑scale water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions are needed, warning that contaminated water sources and unsafe waste disposal practices remain key drivers of transmission.

They further called for an aggressive public awareness campaign to educate residents on preventive measures, including proper handwashing, safe food handling and early reporting of symptoms to health facilities.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Borno State Ministry of Health and international partners such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières, the Forum insisted that only a stronger federal emergency intervention can prevent the outbreak from worsening.

The development comes amid growing concerns from health experts that recurring cholera outbreaks in northern Nigeria are being fueled by weak sanitation infrastructure, flooding and overcrowded settlements—conditions that continue to expose millions to preventable disease outbreaks.

The statement read, “We, the Northern Senators Forum, commiserate with the government and good people of Borno State over the tragic loss of 37 lives to the ongoing cholera outbreak. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. May the Almighty Allah grant the departed eternal rest and give their families the fortitude to bear this painful loss.

“We are deeply concerned by reports of over 3,000 cases across 7 local government areas, with Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere bearing the heaviest burden. The 1% case fatality rate and the strain on health infrastructure described by the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency constitute a serious public health emergency. In light of this, we call on the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC, in collaboration with the Borno State Government, to take the following immediate steps:

“Deploy emergency medical support: Dispatch NCDC rapid response teams, clinicians, and adequate supplies of IV fluids, ORS, and antibiotics to overwhelmed treatment centres.

“Fast‑track cholera vaccination: Accelerate the rollout of oral cholera vaccines to MMC, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala, and Magumeri, prioritising IDP camps and flood‑prone communities.

“Strengthen WASH interventions: Provide emergency potable water, water treatment tablets, and sanitation facilities. Launch an aggressive campaign against open defecation and poor waste disposal, especially as the rainy season increases contamination risks.

“Scale public awareness: Intensify community sensitisation on hand hygiene, safe food preparation, and early reporting of symptoms to health facilities.

“We commend the Borno State Ministry of Health and partners including WHO, UNICEF, and MSF for their ongoing response efforts, and we urge the Federal Government to provide all necessary resources to contain this outbreak before the rainy season worsens it.

“The health and safety of our people must remain our collective priority.”

ENDS

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