El Niño and Your Health: How to Stay Safe in Nigeria

A climate report projects 31,400 extra heat-related deaths in Nigeria between September 2026 and February 2027. That number is scary. The good news is that most heat illness is preventable, and a few simple habits can protect you and your family.

First, keep the number in perspective

The projection comes from the Climate Impact Lab, which published it on September 22. It is a modelled estimate of extra deaths compared with a normal year, not a count of what will happen. The report puts about 15,400 of those deaths in December through February, the hottest stretch.

The lesson is not to panic. It is to prepare, because the people most at risk are often the ones who could have been protected.

Who is most at risk

• Babies and young children
• Older adults
• Pregnant women
• People with long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease
• Outdoor workers: farmers, traders, builders, okada and bus drivers

Beat the heat

• Drink water often, before you feel thirsty. Aim for steady sips through the day, not one big gulp.
• Avoid the worst hours. Where you can, stay out of direct sun in the middle of the day and take work breaks in the shade.
• Dress light. Loose, light-coloured clothing and a hat help.
• Cool your home. Open windows for cross-breezes at night, and use wet cloths on the neck and wrists.
• Never leave a child or elderly person in a parked car, even briefly.
• Check on neighbours who live alone.

Know the danger signs

Heat exhaustion means heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or cramps. Move the person to a cool, shaded place, loosen clothing, cool the skin with wet cloths, and give small sips of water if they are alert.

Heat stroke is an emergency. Warning signs include confusion, a very hot body, fainting, seizures, or unusually dry skin or hard breathing. Call for help and get the person to a hospital immediately. While you wait, cool them as fast as you can with water and shade. Do not force drinks on someone who is drowsy or unconscious.

Other health risks to watch

• Meningitis. The NCDC warns that fever and headache in the dry season should not automatically be treated as malaria. Stiff neck, vomiting, confusion or a very sick child need urgent medical care, because bacterial meningitis can turn fatal within hours. Take the vaccine when campaigns are announced.
• Cholera and diarrhoea. Heavy rain and flooding can contaminate water. Drink boiled or chlorinated water, wash hands often, and avoid floodwater. Seek care quickly for diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Malaria. Changing weather can affect mosquito breeding. Sleep under a net and clear standing water around your home.

The bottom line

El Niño is a reason to be ready, not afraid. Drink water, avoid the midday sun, protect the vulnerable, and go to a clinic early when something feels wrong rather than waiting.

This is general health information, not medical advice. If you or someone near you is seriously unwell, seek medical help immediately.