The Federal Government has made four emergency requests for cholera vaccines as the country battles a rising number of deaths from the disease.
Nationwide figures show that cholera has killed at least 500 people as of October 26, 2025. The figure reflects the growing pressure on health authorities to strengthen their response.
A report obtained from the World Health Organisation shows that cholera cases remain high globally, with 565,404 infections and 7,074 deaths recorded across 32 countries this year.
The report said the Eastern Mediterranean Region has the highest number of cases, followed by Africa, South-East Asia, the Americas, and the Western Pacific. The ICG, which oversees emergency vaccine supply, is responsible for ensuring fair access to approved vaccines during outbreaks of cholera, meningitis, yellow fever, and Ebola.
Cholera remains a major health challenge in Nigeria. The Oral Cholera Vaccine is considered an important tool to help prevent and control the disease.
The report stated that Nigeria recorded 22,102 cholera cases and 500 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 2.3 per cent. In the last 28 days of October alone, the country recorded 1,320 cases and 33 deaths.
The WHO noted that in October, the African Region reported 13,253 new cases across 13 countries, which is a slight decrease from September. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and South Sudan had the highest figures.
There were also 272 cholera-related deaths across the region in October. The DRC recorded the highest number, followed by Angola and Nigeria.
From January 1 to October 26, the African Region recorded more than 223,000 cholera cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. South Sudan, the DRC, and Angola accounted for the highest toll.
The global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccine averaged 7.9 million doses in October, staying above the minimum requirement of five million doses for emergency response.
In the first ten months of 2025, countries submitted 50 emergency requests for cholera vaccines, compared to 20 in 2024. Nigeria submitted four requests. Out of the 50 requests, 46 were approved, representing 49 million doses.
The WHO listed several challenges affecting cholera control, including low vaccine supply, weak water and hygiene systems, poor surveillance, lack of manpower, and difficulty accessing people in conflict areas. It also warned that climate change, open borders, and pressure on national health systems continue to drive outbreaks.
WHO, UNICEF, IFRC, and other partners are working on better forecasting and planning, and are focusing vaccine distribution on areas with the greatest need. They are also calling for stronger international support to help countries respond to outbreaks.
Japan recently donated items worth 500,000 dollars through the WHO to support Nigeria’s cholera response. The items include equipment, surveillance tools, and training materials. Life-saving supplies valued at 104,951 dollars were handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in Abuja.
WHO said the support is aimed at improving Nigeria’s ability to detect and contain outbreaks quickly, reducing deaths and infections.
