Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged residents to take precautions against extreme heat, warning that elderly people, babies and individuals with underlying health conditions may face greater risks of heat-related illnesses.
Soludo, founder of the non-governmental organisation Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, gave the advice in a statement on Sunday as concerns grow over rising temperatures and the potential health consequences of an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern.
She advised residents to drink plenty of water, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, wear light clothing and ensure their homes are well ventilated to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and other heat-related conditions.
The first lady also called on relevant agencies to pay particular attention to vulnerable groups, including people living with hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, whose conditions could increase their susceptibility to extreme heat.
She said, “As we head deep into a period of increased heat, I encourage every family to take simple but important precautions to protect their health.
“Stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, wear light clothing, and keep your homes well ventilated.
“Please pay special attention to the elderly, babies, and persons living with hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease, as they may be more vulnerable to extreme heat.”
Soludo further encouraged residents to check on relatives and neighbours, particularly in the mornings and evenings, to ensure they were coping with the heat.
She urged anyone who noticed signs of severe heat-related illness to move the affected person to a cool place, begin cooling their body and seek emergency medical attention immediately.
“Anambra’s emergency line is still 112. Remember that a little caution today can save a life tomorrow,” she said.
The warning comes amid projections by the Climate Impact Lab that Nigeria could record an additional 31,400 heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027 as an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern intensifies.
The report, published on September 22, 2026, and titled 451,000 at Risk: Where Action Can Save Lives During the Super El Niño, estimates that 451,000 additional heat-related deaths could occur worldwide between June 2026 and February 2027, compared with a normal year.
Nigeria is among the countries projected to experience a high burden of additional heat-related deaths, with nearly half of the 66,800 deaths projected across the Sahel region expected to occur in the country.
