No light, no sleep as heatwave bites

Rising temperatures, compounded by erratic electricity supply, are forcing residents in many states to sleep outdoors, take repeated night-time baths and spend more on alternative power sources as households struggle to cope with the heat.

While many Nigerians who spoke with Saturday PUNCH reported prolonged blackouts and inadequate water supply, others said the conditions had made nights uncomfortable.

They also lamented the high cost of fuel, inadequate water supply and the expense of rechargeable fans and solar installations.

The situation has raised concerns about the health of children, the elderly and residents with underlying medical conditions as the country prepares for months of dry weather.

This comes amid a warning by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that Nigerians should prepare for hotter days as the country transitions from the rainy season to the dry season.

Also, a research organisation, Climate Impact Lab, in its updated El Niño Heat Mortality Tracker, projected that Nigeria could record about 56,000 heat-related deaths between October 2026 and March 2027.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern characterised by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

According to the report, the climate anomaly is expected to trigger unprecedented extreme-heat days across the country.

Jos, other residents sleep outdoors, groan over poor electricity

Saturday PUNCH gathered that a number of Jos residents are sleeping on verandas and in open compounds as prolonged heat persists at night amid unreliable electricity supply.

Speaking with our correspondent, a community leader in Angwa Rogo, Jos North Local Government, Hamisu Abdullahi, said households were struggling to cope, especially children and the elderly.

“People now sleep outside because rooms are too hot. There is no light to run fans,” he said.

A women leader in Tudun Wada, Sarah Dangyang, said parents bathed infants frequently and used rechargeable fans, which cost between N25,000 and N60,000.

Also, a youth leader in the area, Samson Chung, said some residents had reported dizziness and dehydration, linking it to the heat and poor power supply.

Meanwhile, some residents of Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Kano, Niger, Edo, Bayelsa, Ogun, Yobe and Kwara states, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH, expressed frustration over the intense heatwave being experienced in the country, describing it as unbearable.

They lamented that the situation had been worsened by erratic power supply, water scarcity and the high cost of fuel, which made it difficult for them to cope with harsh weather conditions.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a resident of Enugu, Ken Ezim, said the combination of intense heat and unreliable electricity made sleeping at night difficult.

“The heat in Enugu State here is so much. Even if you come out in the sun, you will be running to where  there is shade. We pray that the heatwave will be moderate for us because it is hitting us,” he said.

Ezim lamented that the cost of fuel made it difficult for households to rely on generators for electricity.

“The cost of fuel has also compounded the situation because how much will you be burning on a daily basis to provide your own power supply? It is terrible. I bathe before I go to bed, and when I wake up around 1 am or 2 am, I bathe again to cool myself,” he added.

Another resident, Theresa Achugo, said she and her family sometimes left their house to sit under trees because the rooms became unbearably hot during power outages.

She said parents were also struggling to keep their children comfortable at night, having to balance ventilation against the risk of mosquito bites.

In Benue State, residents lamented the impact of unstable electricity supply on their ability to cope with the heat, with some families sleeping outside their homes.

A community leader in Otukpo, Sunny Edi, said the heat made indoor activities difficult even during the day.

“As we are talking now, I cannot stay indoors due to the hot weather because there is no light. The worst period is the night, especially when there is no light. Every family within our community now sleeps outside. Even when there is light, the breeze is always hot,” he said.

A retired civil servant in Makurdi, Peter Atoundo, said the weather aggravated concerns about his health.

He said he followed his physician’s advice to drink enough water and took frequent baths to manage the heat, adding that he sometimes slept under trees in the afternoon because of unstable electricity supply.

In Nasarawa State, residents of Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi also complained about worsening electricity supply, saying the situation forced some households to sleep outside their rooms.

A Lafia resident, Abubakar Yahuza, said the heat became particularly difficult to endure because electricity supply deteriorated.

“Most of us have stopped sleeping inside our rooms at night because of the terrible weather conditions,” he said.

Another resident, Hanatu Ibrahim, said the high cost of fuel prevented many households from using generators as an alternative source of electricity.

She called on the government to address the unreliable power supply, noting that residents were struggling to remain comfortable in their homes.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Nasarawa State Governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, said the government planned to embark on sensitisation campaigns in urban and rural communities to educate residents on coping with the heat.

He advised residents to drink water at regular intervals to remain hydrated and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

In Kano State, residents of Farm Centre in Tarauni Local Government Area said poor electricity supply at night disrupted their sleep.

A resident, Rabi’u Ya’u, said the combination of high temperatures and unreliable electricity made it difficult to enjoy adequate rest.

Another resident, Musa Bello, said some households resorted to sleeping outside under mosquito nets.

He added that residents who could afford it installed solar power systems in their homes to reduce their dependence on public electricity supply.

In Niger State, residents of Minna said the unusually early onset of the dry season brought intense heat, while prolonged electricity outages worsened the situation.

A resident of Tunga Bypass, Hajiya Aishatu Nda, accused officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company of disconnecting electricity to her compound over an outstanding bill, leaving residents without power throughout the weekend.

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She said many households were already struggling with limited electricity supply before the disconnection.

A community leader in Angwa Samande, Tunga, Musa Abdullahi, said the heat was accompanied by growing concerns over water availability.

He alleged that water vendors increased their charges as supplies dwindled, while the water board failed to supply some communities adequately.

He said residents worried about how they would cope if the intense heat persisted into December and January.

The Niger State Ministry of Health said it was aware of the situation and advised residents to carry drinking water whenever they went outdoors.

A ministry official said the government was monitoring electricity and water supply challenges.

In Bayelsa State, a community leader in Amarata, Yenagoa, Anthony Akpagra, said families relied on electric fans when electricity was available but struggled to afford fuel for generators.

Akpagra expressed hope that the state government’s urban lighting initiative would improve electricity supply, particularly in Amarata.

Edo engages town criers, Ogun deploys solar fans

In Edo State, traditional and community leaders said they began sensitising residents on measures to reduce health risks associated with the heat.

The Elekor of Ekor in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Oba Raphael Alufa, said he engaged town criers to educate residents on wearing light clothing and drinking plenty of water.

He said farmers also adjusted their schedules, leaving for their farms as early as 5:30 am and returning around 9am to avoid the scorching sun.

Alufa urged residents, particularly nursing mothers, to follow health advice being circulated in their communities.

A community leader in Amagba, Benin, Gabriel Osa, said residents struggled most when temperatures peaked during the day.

He said a recent power outage following the strike by electricity workers left residents in darkness for about a week, making the heat more difficult to endure.

Residents of Ogun State said they depended on solar-powered fans to cope with increasing hot weather.

Speaking with our correspondent, a civil servant, Miss Toke Olukoya, said, “I have invested in solar-powered fans in case the IBEDC decides to go their usual erratic way. I have also been an advocate telling people how they can cope with the heatwave because I believe that when it is not well with my neighbour, I myself won’t be at ease.”

Also speaking with our correspondent, Mr Lekan Aina said he invested in solar fans to ensure that his family of five did not suffer too much as a result of the heatwave.

Aina said, “I just bought three solar fans to ensure that my wife and three children do not suffer too much from this unbearable heat because the light in my area is not reliable. I have also told my wife and children to drink water regularly and to also bathe with water regularly, particularly when they are at home.”

Analysts warn against alcohol, sugary drinks

Meanwhile, public health experts advised Nigerians on how to cope with the extreme heat, urging them to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, wear light clothing and limit outdoor activities during peak sunshine hours.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof Olayinka Atilola, advised Nigerians to avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks, increase water intake and wear light clothing to reduce the risk of dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.

He said excessive sweating during periods of intense heat could cause dehydration, stressing the need for people to replenish lost fluids by drinking plenty of water.

Atilola said, “People must also reduce or stop consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks because alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks are a way of increasing the level of dehydration.”

He also advised Nigerians to wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing to allow their bodies to regulate temperature more effectively.

The don recommended taking regular showers with lukewarm water and using damp towels to cool the body, explaining that water evaporation could help remove heat from the skin.

Atilola further urged Nigerians to avoid strenuous activities during the hottest hours of the day, particularly between 11 am and 4 pm, and to use umbrellas or seek shade when outdoors.

He called for special attention to children and elderly people, who he said needed additional protection during periods of extreme heat.

Atilola advised people experiencing symptoms such as severe weakness, dizziness, muscle cramps and headaches to seek medical attention, warning that such signs could indicate that the heat was affecting their health.

On his part, the Director of Public Health in the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr Sadique Abubakar, advised residents to minimise exposure to excessive heat, drink plenty of water and ensure adequate ventilation in their homes.

He also advised residents to use umbrellas when outdoors and avoid overcrowded places during periods of intense heat.

“What we advise people to do is minimise their exposure to excessive heat as much as possible. People should stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and maintaining good health,” Abubakar said.

The director urged anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of heatstroke to seek prompt medical attention at the nearest health facility.

The former Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association in Kaduna State, Dr Sheyin Madaki, warned that unusually high temperatures could persist until February 2027, increasing the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

He advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, even when they were not thirsty, and urged families to pay particular attention to children and older people.

Madaki identified excessive sweating, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea as possible warning signs of dehydration and other heat-related illnesses, urging residents to seek medical attention when such symptoms occurred.

‘Urbanisation heightens heat exposure’

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a climate change expert, Gboyega Olorunfemi, attributed the country’s vulnerability to extreme heat to rapid urbanisation.

Olorunfemi, who is the Project Lead at the Society for Planet and Prosperity, noted that many Nigerians working in agriculture, construction, waste disposal and other informal sectors were particularly exposed because their jobs required prolonged outdoor activity.

He said, “Rapid urbanisation, which has created heat islands, limited tree cover, unreliable electricity, poor housing ventilation and inadequate access to cooling, has increased heat stress, and this is very obvious.”