The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory warning of an increased risk of cholera and other disease outbreaks following forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the country.

The alert follows projections by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which indicated that several states may experience significant rainfall and flooding between April 13 and 17, 2026.

States identified as high-risk include Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Kwara.

In its advisory, the NCDC cautioned that flooding could lead to outbreaks of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases, as well as an increase in malaria cases, infections linked to contaminated water, physical injuries, and disruptions to healthcare services.

The agency urged residents in affected areas to adopt preventive measures, including consuming only safe water that has been boiled or chlorinated, maintaining proper hand hygiene, and avoiding contact with floodwaters.

It also recommended proper food storage, improved sanitation practices, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help reduce the risk of malaria transmission.

“Individuals experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting or fever should seek immediate medical attention,” the agency stated.

The NCDC further called on community leaders to intensify public awareness campaigns, promote sanitation practices, ensure access to clean water, and encourage early reporting of suspected cases of illness.

It added that it is collaborating with state governments to strengthen disease surveillance systems, preparedness, and emergency response capacity in anticipation of the predicted flooding.

The advisory comes amid continued concerns over the public health impact of seasonal flooding, which has previously contributed to disease outbreaks in vulnerable communities across the country.