Environment News

Super El Niño Heat Risk – Nigeria

October 2 , 2026 15 hrs 0 min 83 0

A University of Chicago-led study projects that a strong El Niño could cause 451,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide between September 2026 and February 2027.
Nigeria is projected to have the world’s highest heat-related death toll, with about 31,400 additional deaths.
The Sahel region of Africa is projected to be the worst-affected region, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad facing the highest risks.
The four countries together could see about 66,800 additional heat-related deaths.
The study analysed temperature and mortality data from 24,378 regions and compared projected deaths with the 1996–2025 average.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon in which sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, affecting global weather patterns.
A strong or “super” El Niño can increase temperatures in several regions and may worsen heatwaves, droughts and other extreme weather events.