Nigeria faces rising heat-related mortality and Lassa fever deaths

Nigeria is facing significant public health challenges due to extreme weather and disease. A report by the Climate Impact Lab (CIL) projects that the country could face 31,400 heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027. This surge is attributed to a Super El Niño event, which is expected to drive global temperatures above normal levels and increase the frequency of extremely hot days.

Separately, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a rise in Lassa fever fatalities. In 2026, the country recorded 268 deaths from the virus, with a case fatality rate of 23.6%, up from 18.6% during the same period in 2025. The NCDC noted that five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue—account for 88% of all confirmed cases this year.