In a press release issued from Abuja on June 2, 2026, the Northern Senators Forum expressed grief over the cholera outbreak in Borno State and urged the Federal Government to act swiftly. Our Managing Editor, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, reviews the Forum’s demands as the death toll rises and the rainy season threatens to worsen the crisis.
The Northern Senators Forum has commiserated with the government and people of Borno State following the tragic loss of 37 lives to an ongoing cholera outbreak. In a statement signed by Chairman Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the Forum extended heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones and prayed Almighty Allah grant the departed eternal rest and their families fortitude to bear the pain.
The lawmakers said they are deeply concerned by the scale of the outbreak. Reports indicate over 3,000 cases spread across 7 local government areas, with Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere bearing the heaviest burden. The concentration of cases in the state capital and its environs has stretched resources thin.
Health officials describe the situation as a serious public health emergency. The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency cited a 1% case fatality rate and severe strain on health infrastructure. For the Senators, those figures are not just statistics but a warning that urgent intervention is needed before the crisis deepens.
In light of the emergency, the Forum called on the Federal Government to act immediately through the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in collaboration with the Borno State Government. They outlined four priority steps to contain the spread and save lives.
First, the Senators demanded emergency medical support. They urged authorities to dispatch NCDC rapid response teams and clinicians, alongside adequate supplies of IV fluids, oral rehydration salts, and antibiotics to overwhelmed treatment centers struggling to cope with patient influx.
Second, they pressed for accelerated cholera vaccination. The Forum asked the Federal Government to fast-track the rollout of oral cholera vaccines to MMC, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala, and Magumeri. They stressed that IDP camps and flood-prone communities must be prioritized given their vulnerability.
Third, the lawmakers called for stronger WASH interventions. They recommended provision of emergency potable water, water treatment tablets, and sanitation facilities. The Senators also urged an aggressive campaign against open defecation and poor waste disposal, warning that the rainy season increases contamination risks.
Fourth, the Forum emphasized public awareness. They asked for intensified community sensitization on hand hygiene, safe food preparation, and early reporting of symptoms to health facilities. Early detection, they noted, remains critical to reducing the fatality rate.
While demanding more action, the Northern Senators acknowledged ongoing efforts on the ground. They commended the Borno State Ministry of Health and partners including WHO, UNICEF, and MSF for their response work amid difficult conditions. The recognition, they said, should not mask the need for more resources.
The Forum then urged the Federal Government to provide all necessary resources to contain the outbreak. With the rainy season approaching, they warned that delays could worsen contamination and push case numbers higher across the affected LGAs and beyond.
“The health and safety of our people must remain our collective priority,” Sen. Yar’Adua stated. The statement, issued from the Office of the Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, New Wing, Senate Building, National Assembly, frames the cholera outbreak as a test of coordinated governance.
As Borno battles the outbreak, the Senators’ message is clear: emergency medical aid, vaccines, clean water, and public education must move in tandem. Whether the Federal Government meets that call before the rains peak will determine if the 37 deaths remain the final toll or just the beginning.
In a press release issued from Abuja on June 2, 2026, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) expressed grief over the cholera outbreak in Borno State and urged the Federal Government to act swiftly. Our Managing Editor, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, reviews the Forum’s demands as the death toll rises and the rainy season threatens to worsen the crisis. Excerpts.
The Northern Senators Forum has commiserated with the government and people of Borno State following the tragic loss of 37 lives to an ongoing cholera outbreak. In a statement signed by Chairman Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the Forum extended heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones and prayed Almighty Allah grant the departed eternal rest and their families fortitude to bear the pain.
The lawmakers said they are deeply concerned by the scale of the outbreak. Reports indicate over 3,000 cases spread across 7 local government areas, with Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere bearing the heaviest burden. The concentration of cases in the state capital and its environs has stretched resources thin.
Health officials describe the situation as a serious public health emergency. The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency cited a 1% case fatality rate and severe strain on health infrastructure. For the Senators, those figures are not just statistics but a warning that urgent intervention is needed before the crisis deepens.
In light of the emergency, the Forum called on the Federal Government to act immediately through the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in collaboration with the Borno State Government. They outlined four priority steps to contain the spread and save lives.
First, the Senators demanded emergency medical support. They urged authorities to dispatch NCDC rapid response teams and clinicians, alongside adequate supplies of IV fluids, oral rehydration salts, and antibiotics to overwhelmed treatment centers struggling to cope with patient influx.
Second, they pressed for accelerated cholera vaccination. The Forum asked the Federal Government to fast-track the rollout of oral cholera vaccines to MMC, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala, and Magumeri. They stressed that IDP camps and flood-prone communities must be prioritized given their vulnerability.
Third, the lawmakers called for stronger WASH interventions. They recommended provision of emergency potable water, water treatment tablets, and sanitation facilities. The Senators also urged an aggressive campaign against open defecation and poor waste disposal, warning that the rainy season increases contamination risks.
Fourth, the Forum emphasized public awareness. They asked for intensified community sensitization on hand hygiene, safe food preparation, and early reporting of symptoms to health facilities. Early detection, they noted, remains critical to reducing the fatality rate.
While demanding more action, the Northern Senators acknowledged ongoing efforts on the ground. They commended the Borno State Ministry of Health and partners including WHO, UNICEF, and MSF for their response work amid difficult conditions. The recognition, they said, should not mask the need for more resources.
The Forum then urged the Federal Government to provide all necessary resources to contain the outbreak. With the rainy season approaching, they warned that delays could worsen contamination and push case numbers higher across the affected LGAs and beyond.
“The health and safety of our people must remain our collective priority,” Sen. Yar’Adua stated. The statement, issued from the Office of the Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, New Wing, Senate Building, National Assembly, frames the cholera outbreak as a test of coordinated governance.
As Borno battles the outbreak, the Senators’ message is clear: emergency medical aid, vaccines, clean water, and public education must move in tandem. Whether the Federal Government meets that call before the rains peak will determine if the 37 deaths remain the final toll or just the beginning.
