Katsina, Kebbi hit by cholera in 2025, amid poor govt expenditure on health, water

By Aminu Abubakar

Cholera cases have recently emerged in two northwestern Nigerian states—Kebbi and Katsina—raising renewed concern about the states’ public health systems and access to basic amenities.

In this report, SolaceBase examines the outbreak, the underlying infrastructural issues, and how prepared the two states are to contain future cholera incidents.

Rising Cholera Cases in Early 2025

According to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 21 cholera cases were reported in Katsina State between the first and ninth weeks of 2025. Kebbi State reported an additional 11 cases during the same period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases across both states to 32.

Although these figures may appear moderate, public health experts warn that they point to deeper systemic issues in the affected regions.

Poor Water and Sanitation Access Fuels Outbreak

One of the key drivers of the cholera outbreak is the lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal that 68% of households in Kebbi State lack access to clean drinking water. In Katsina State, 39% of households face the same issue. The statistics for sanitation access are even more alarming: 79% of households in Kebbi and 61% in Katsina lack access to basic sanitary facilities.

These conditions not only increase the likelihood of cholera outbreaks but also complicate efforts to contain them.

Read Also:INVESTIGATION: How water contamination, poor healthcare fuel Kano’s cholera crisis

Cholera: A Preventable but Persistent Threat

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines cholera as an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. It remains a major public health threat, particularly in regions with poor infrastructure.

WHO notes that cholera outbreaks are not just health crises but also indicators of broader social and economic inequalities. Preventing cholera requires universal access to safe water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene practices—conditions still far from being met in both Kebbi and Katsina.

Budget Allocation vs. Implementation: A Widening Gap in Kebbi

Despite the urgency, Kebbi State’s investment in water infrastructure has been insufficient. In 2024, the state allocated N8.7 billion to its Ministry of Water Resources, but only N1.4 billion was actually spent, representing just 16% of the budget. Of this amount, N1 billion went to capital projects, translating to a budget performance of 13.7% for capital expenditure.

Read Also:Despite cholera deaths, Plateau prioritizes cars, residences for Speaker over epidemic preparedness

The health sector also saw similarly low execution. The 2024 capital expenditure for the Ministry of Health was N8.174 billion, but only N2.35 billion was utilised by the end of the year—about 28.7%. The Primary Health Development Agency, responsible for community-level healthcare, spent just N937 million out of a N2.9 billion capital budget.

Katsina Also Struggles with Health Spending

Katsina State faced similar challenges. In 2024, it allocated N2.405 billion to its State Primary Healthcare Agency. However, only N410.7 million—or roughly 17%—was expended by year’s end.

Between January and September 2024,  Katsina State spent N335.6 million on refreshments and meals while honorarium and sitting allowances expenditure stood at N78.2 million.

In February, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, raised concerns over the high rate of maternal mortality in Katsina State.

Such low budget implementation rates raise questions about the states’ commitment and capacity to address public health challenges, particularly in the wake of recurring outbreaks like cholera.

Urgent Need for Action

The cholera outbreak in Kebbi and Katsina highlights a critical need for improved investment in basic infrastructure. Without addressing fundamental issues such as clean water access and healthcare delivery, both states remain vulnerable to future outbreaks and broader public health crises.

Read Also:With history of fatalities due to cholera outbreak, northern states are spending poorly on healthcare infrastructure

Experts warn that unless significant improvements are made in budget execution and service delivery, more lives will remain at risk, not just from cholera, but from a range of preventable waterborne diseases.