To tackle the growing threat of cholera outbreaks in Lagos, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in partnership with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), has launched an awareness campaign aimed at food and water vendors, waste workers, and students in flood-affected communities.

This initiative, supported by funding from the Government of Japan, aims to enhance the capacity of street vendors and workers who are often among the most vulnerable during cholera outbreaks. The event held in Ikorodu was themed “Emergency Capacity Building of Informal Food and Water Vendors and Waste Workers in Flood-Affected Lagos to Combat Cholera Outbreaks.”

The seminar brought together vendors, local government officials, health experts, and students from three secondary schools in Ikorodu.

The primary objective of the campaign is to equip street food vendors and water vendors who lack proper access to clean water or sanitation with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their customers from waterborne diseases.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of LASEPA, said the Lagos State Government is actively responding to recent cholera outbreaks, especially in Ikorodu and Badagry, through a multi-layered strategy that includes increased surveillance, public health education, improved sanitation, and free treatment for suspected cases.

He stressed the agency’s ongoing role in tracing contaminated water sources, promoting hygiene, and preventing further spread. “We are working closely with various partners to ensure Lagos residents are better informed and better protected,” he said.

Also speaking at the seminar, Mr. Charles Uzoma, representing UNIDO, explained that the focus on street vendors stems from data gathered during previous outbreaks, which showed that some locally prepared drinks, such as kunu and zobo, were made using unsafe water. This, he said, made street food vendors and water vendors a “weak link” in the chain of public health.

He emphasised that the problem is exacerbated by regular flooding, which often carries wastewater and sewage into clean water sources, particularly in areas with inadequate infrastructure. “Cholera outbreaks in Nigeria usually happen during the rainy season, and Lagos is particularly vulnerable due to its location and rising population,” he said. “That’s why this project is focused on the most exposed areas, and what people consume everyday.”

The enlightenment session included discussions on safe water handling, the importance of clean containers, and the dangers of using untreated water. Food and water sellers from Ikorodu, many of whom had never received formal health training, listened attentively as facilitators demonstrated practical hygiene tips to prevent contamination.

Dr. Hassan Sanuth, Director of Sanitation at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, gave further context to the challenge. He noted that many communities in Lagos are situated below sea level and are therefore at greater risk of flooding. As the city becomes more crowded and infrastructure gets stretched, he said, even once-safe water sources are becoming unsafe due to pollution and unregulated activities.

“Last year, cholera affected over 1,000 people in Lagos, and 15 of them died,” Dr. Sanuth said. “Many of us may be unknowingly supplying infected water, and it’s only when people start falling sick that the danger becomes clear. That’s why awareness and prevention are so important.”

Students from schools such as United Secondary High School, Ayangburen Senior High School, and Ikorodu Senior High School were also in attendance at the seminar.