The resurging cholera outbreak in Plateau State has rekindled concerns over Nigeria’s sanitation crisis, with health experts warning of wider public health risks if structural challenges remain unaddressed.
While the state government confirmed five laboratory-tested cases of cholera and 20 additional suspected infections in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA), three people have already died from the disease, underscoring the urgency of a sustainable health and sanitation response in Nigeria’s north-central region.
Bokkos Under Strain as Cholera Emerges After Conflict
The outbreak has been traced to Ngyong, Hurti, and Wurit communities, all within Bokkos LGA a region recently destabilised by communal violence that left many displaced.
Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, attributed the outbreak to “poor sanitation, limited access to clean water and the population displacement from the recent attacks in Bokkos.”
Displacement from conflict zones has further deteriorated sanitation conditions across vulnerable regions in Nigeria. According to data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), by early 2024, over 3.7 million people were internally displaced in the country, many of whom were forced into informal camps lacking clean water and basic sanitation services.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had earlier warned that the rainy season could intensify cholera outbreaks if water sources remain contaminated and sanitation infrastructure weak. As of epidemiological week 16 of 2025, the NCDC reported 1,307 suspected cholera cases and 34 deaths across 30 states and 98 Local Government Areas.
To contain the outbreak in Plateau, the Ministry of Health has activated an Incident Management System (IMS).
“The state epidemiologist has been appointed as the incident manager for the cholera outbreak,” Dr Baamlong stated.
The official is expected to oversee the establishment of oral rehydration centres in affected communities, alongside cholera treatment centres and units at the College Hospital in Bokkos.
The Plateau State Ministry of Health is also coordinating surveillance, case management and risk communication activities, urging community members to report suspected cases and practice improved hygiene.
Cholera Remains Endemic in Nigeria
Despite repeated interventions by the federal government and international partners, cholera continues to pose a serious public health challenge in Nigeria.
According to data cited in the History of Cholera article, Nigeria reported over 24,000 suspected cases and 612 deaths between January and early February 2022 alone accounting for nearly half of all cholera cases in Africa during that period. Source: History of Cholera
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A major driver of the cholera spread remains Nigeria’s limited access to safe water and sanitation infrastructure. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than 70 million Nigerians lack access to basic sanitation services, while 33 percent of the population still rely on unimproved water sources. These figures reflect findings from the 2021 WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) report, which also revealed that only 10 per cent of the population have access to combined basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
The UNICEF report further highlighted rural-urban disparities, with rural residents being three times more likely to lack access to these essential services compared to their urban counterparts.
While the current outbreak is localised in Bokkos, there are fears that uncontained spread could affect neighbouring LGAs and even spill into urban areas, where densely packed communities and weak waste management systems could accelerate transmission.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal illness caused by ingesting water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. If left untreated, it can kill within hours due to severe dehydration. However, it is preventable and treatable with access to clean water, sanitation, and timely medical care.
The Health Commissioner urged residents to prioritise hygiene, including proper handwashing, and to avoid open defecation and unsafe water sources.
“We are calling on residents of Bokkos and surrounding areas to be vigilant and practice good hygiene. Report any suspected case of cholera to the nearest healthcare facility immediately,” he advised.
The Plateau State Government has also appealed for support from public health partners and humanitarian organisations.
“We reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all Plateau residents,” Baamlong said, noting that collaborative efforts will be vital to containing the outbreak and preventing future occurrences.
The recurring cholera outbreaks in Nigeria expose systemic gaps in basic service delivery, particularly in conflict-prone or rural areas. Unless federal, state, and local governments accelerate efforts to improve water infrastructure, sanitation services, and emergency preparedness, Nigeria risks a cycle of recurring health crises with costly humanitarian consequences.
