By Deborah Nnamdi
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to contain a worsening cholera outbreak in Badagry West, Lagos State, which has already claimed lives and poses a serious public health risk.
This appeal followed the adoption of a motion presented by Hon. Sesi Whingan, who warned of further loss of life without urgent intervention in the affected communities.
In a show of solidarity, lawmakers observed a minute of silence in memory of those who have died from the outbreak.
The House directed the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to urgently deploy disease surveillance teams, medical supplies, and public health education initiatives to impacted areas, especially in the Zongo and Seme regions of Badagry West LCDA.
During the motion’s presentation, Whingan described the outbreak as a looming national health crisis, citing contaminated water, inadequate sanitation, and the collapse of local healthcare infrastructure—exacerbated by the relocation of the Nigerian Air Force Mother and Child Care Hospital.
He further highlighted that a prolonged four-year power outage had crippled water systems, vaccine storage, and medical services, significantly worsening the outbreak. He warned that without rapid intervention by both federal and state authorities, the disease could spread across the country.
Lawmakers expressed dismay over what they described as a breach of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the protection and welfare of Nigerian citizens.
Despite the dire situation, Whingan and fellow lawmakers commended local health workers and volunteers for their tireless efforts in containing the outbreak.
To bolster the response, the House also called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development to supply essential relief materials, including clean water and sanitation facilities. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was directed to provide water purification tablets, disinfectants, and sanitary kits to help prevent further infections.
Recognizing the critical role of electricity in maintaining healthcare operations, the House tasked the Federal Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with restoring electricity to Badagry West LCDA to support the revival of water and health services.
Finally, the House mandated its joint Committees on Healthcare Services, Power, Rural Electrification, and Emergency Preparedness to visit the affected areas, assess the situation, monitor power restoration, and investigate the relocation of key health facilities. The committees are to report back within three weeks.
