HEAT WAVE: ANAMBRA FIRST LADY URGES RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS

Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged residents to take precautions against heat-related illnesses as temperatures rise across the country.

Soludo, founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, called on relevant agencies to give particular attention to older people, babies and residents living with hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease.

She said these groups could be more vulnerable during periods of extreme heat and needed additional support to protect their health.

Her appeal comes amid a Climate Impact Lab report projecting that Nigeria could experience an additional 31,400 heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027 during an unusually strong El Niño.

The estimate represents a possible increase compared with a normal year, rather than deaths already recorded.

According to the report, Nigeria could account for nearly half of the 66,800 additional heat-related deaths projected across the Sahel during that period.

Published on September 22, 2026, the study also estimated that extreme heat could contribute to 451,000 additional deaths worldwide between June 2026 and February 2027.

Soludo’s message highlights the need for residents and public agencies to take heat risks seriously, particularly when caring for people whose age or existing health conditions may leave them more exposed.