By Michael Omotosho |
As concerns grow over the possible effects of an intensifying El Niño event, attention is turning to how Nigerians can protect themselves from prolonged heat, recognise heat-related illnesses and help people who may struggle to cope with rising temperatures.
For many households, the challenge goes beyond the discomfort of a hot afternoon. Poor ventilation, unreliable electricity, limited access to water and outdoor jobs can make it difficult to escape the heat, even when people understand the risks.
A report titled 451,000 at Risk: Where Action Can Save Lives During the Super El Niño projects that Nigeria could record 31,400 additional heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027 if temperatures rise as forecast.
The projection, featured in an earlier DNN Radio report, is not a confirmed death toll. However, it highlights the need for public awareness and early preparation as concerns grow over the potential health effects of extreme heat.
While individuals cannot prevent El Niño itself, they can take steps to reduce their exposure to dangerous temperatures, protect vulnerable family members and recognise when heat becomes a medical emergency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, while worsening existing cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney conditions. Its guidance emphasises staying cool, drinking water regularly and taking additional precautions for people at greater risk.
What El Niño Means for Nigerians
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It influences atmospheric circulation and can alter temperature and rainfall patterns in different parts of the world.
Its effects are not uniform. Some regions experience higher temperatures and drier conditions, while others may experience increased rainfall. An intensifying El Niño does not automatically mean that every part of Nigeria will experience the same conditions.
Residents should therefore pay attention to updated forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) rather than rely on assumptions or unverified social media claims.
NiMet provides weather forecasts and seasonal climate information relevant to public health, agriculture, water resources and disaster preparedness. Nigerians can consult the agency’s official website for available updates.
Understanding the difference between a climate forecast and an immediate health risk is important. Regardless of how El Niño develops, prolonged periods of high temperatures can affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and increase the risk of illness.
How Nigerians Can Protect Themselves from Extreme Heat
1. Drink water regularly, even before you feel thirsty
Dehydration can develop when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, particularly during physical activity and prolonged exposure to heat.
Drinking water regularly throughout the day can help replace fluid lost through sweating. People who work outdoors, exercise or spend long periods travelling should pay particular attention to their fluid intake.
However, people with medical conditions that require fluid restrictions should follow their healthcare professional’s advice rather than automatically increasing their water consumption.
Residents should also avoid relying on alcohol to cool down and be cautious about excessive consumption of highly caffeinated drinks.
2. Change how and when you work
For people who work outdoors, avoiding the sun completely may not be realistic. Farmers, construction workers, market traders, street vendors and transport operators often have to continue working despite high temperatures.
Where possible, physically demanding activities should be scheduled for cooler periods, such as early morning or later in the evening. Workers should take regular breaks in shaded or cooler areas and have access to drinking water.
Employers and worksite managers also have a responsibility to reduce heat exposure by providing rest breaks, shaded areas and safer working arrangements during periods of dangerous heat.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance on the risks faced by outdoor workers and ways to reduce heat exposure. Read its recommendations for outdoor workers.
3. Keep your home cool, especially at night
A home that remains hot after sunset can make it difficult for the body to recover from daytime heat. Poor ventilation and buildings that retain heat may increase discomfort and health risks.
Residents can take practical steps to reduce indoor temperatures. Curtains or blinds can help block direct sunlight during the day, while unnecessary appliances that generate heat can be switched off.
Opening windows when outdoor air becomes cooler may improve ventilation, provided it is safe to do so. Wearing lightweight clothing and taking cool showers or using cool, damp cloths can also provide relief.
Fans may help in some conditions, but they should not be relied on as the sole protection when indoor temperatures become dangerously high. People who cannot cool their homes sufficiently should consider moving to a cooler location where possible.
4. Protect children, older people and those with health conditions
Extreme heat can affect anyone, but some people face greater risks because of their age, health or living conditions.
Infants and young children need regular access to drinking water, shade and cooler environments. Outdoor activities should be adjusted when temperatures become dangerous, and children must never be left alone in parked vehicles.
Older people, particularly those living alone, may need help obtaining water, reaching a cooler place or accessing medical care. Family members and neighbours should check on them regularly, especially during prolonged periods of heat.
Pregnant women and people with cardiovascular, respiratory or kidney conditions may also need additional precautions. Some medicines can affect sweating, hydration or temperature regulation, so people taking them should ask a healthcare professional about their individual risks. Prescribed medicines should not be stopped without medical advice.
5. Know when heat becomes a medical emergency
Recognising the symptoms of heat-related illness can help prevent a dangerous situation from becoming worse.
Heat exhaustion may cause heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, muscle cramps and intense thirst. A person experiencing these symptoms should stop physical activity, move to a cooler place, loosen unnecessary clothing and begin cooling the body with cool water or wet cloths.
If the person is fully alert and can swallow safely, they can drink water. Medical attention is necessary if symptoms worsen, persist or fail to improve promptly.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Warning signs may include confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness. The skin may be hot and dry, although a person experiencing heatstroke can still sweat.
If heatstroke is suspected, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Move the person to a cooler place and begin rapid cooling with cool water and wet cloths while waiting for help. Do not give anything by mouth to someone who is confused or unconscious.
The WHO provides further information on recognising heat-related illness and staying safe during heatwaves.
How Communities Can Help Protect Lives
Preparing for extreme heat should not be left to individuals and their families alone. Neighbours, community groups, schools, religious organisations and local authorities can help identify people who need assistance and make protective information more accessible.
Community organisations can share verified weather alerts and health advice in local languages, check on older residents and people with disabilities, and help households identify safer places to escape dangerous indoor temperatures.
Schools and childcare centres should provide access to drinking water, ventilation and shaded areas. They should also consider adjusting strenuous outdoor activities when conditions become dangerous.
Markets, construction sites and transport hubs could provide shaded rest areas and accessible drinking water for workers and members of the public. Local authorities and community organisations could identify suitable public buildings where people can temporarily find relief when their homes become excessively hot.
These measures are particularly important for people who cannot afford air conditioning, have unreliable electricity or must continue working outdoors to earn a daily income.
Communities can also help by sharing accurate information rather than circulating unverified claims about the weather. Reliable warnings give people a better opportunity to prepare without creating unnecessary panic.
What Government Agencies Need to Do
Individual precautions are important, but they cannot replace coordinated public action.
NiMet’s forecasts should reach communities through accessible channels, including radio broadcasts, local-language messages and other platforms used by people who may not have reliable internet access.
Health authorities should strengthen public education on heat-related illnesses and ensure that health workers can recognise and manage heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Emergency management agencies and local governments should identify communities with limited access to water, shade and cooling, and develop plans to support residents during periods of dangerous heat.
Workplace protections are also necessary. Employers should provide drinking water, rest breaks and safer working arrangements when temperatures rise, particularly for people whose jobs require prolonged outdoor exposure.
In agriculture, timely weather information can help farmers make informed decisions about planting, water management and working conditions. Clear communication between meteorological agencies, health authorities and local governments can help ensure that warnings translate into practical action.
Preparedness Could Help Reduce the Human Cost
The possible effects of El Niño highlight the importance of preparing for extreme heat before it becomes a public health emergency.
Nigerians can reduce their exposure by drinking water regularly, adjusting outdoor activities, keeping homes as cool as possible and learning to recognise the warning signs of heat-related illness. Checking on neighbours and helping vulnerable people can also make a difference.
However, effective preparedness requires more than public awareness. Reliable forecasts, accessible health services, workplace protections and community-level support are essential to ensure that people have the means to protect themselves.
The projected 31,400 additional heat-related deaths outlined in the 451,000 at Risk report remain an estimate based on forecast conditions and mortality modelling, not a confirmed outcome. The eventual impact will depend on the conditions that develop and the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce the risks.
For Nigeria, the priority is to turn available climate information into practical guidance that reaches people before dangerous heat occurs.
Extreme heat cannot always be avoided, but its health consequences can be reduced when people recognise the risks, act early and have access to the support they need.
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