Rapid urban growth, overcrowding, and poor sanitation are turning Nigerian cities into hotspots for infectious diseases, according to UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has warned that overcrowded living conditions and fast-growing cities are accelerating the spread of infectious diseases across Nigeria.
Speaking at a distinguished lecture at the Federal University of Health Sciences Ila-Orangun, Ogunsola said poor access to clean water, sanitation, and proper waste disposal in urban communities is creating dangerous public health risks.
She explained that many residents share overcrowded toilets, rely on polluted water sources, and live in areas with weak infrastructure — conditions that allow infections to spread rapidly.
Ogunsola also linked climate change to rising disease transmission, noting that warmer temperatures help mosquitoes and other disease-carrying vectors breed faster and survive longer, increasing the risk of year-round infections.
She added that air pollution from generators, firewood, and fossil fuels is worsening respiratory illnesses and weakening people’s immunity, especially among children and the elderly.
The UNILAG VC urged governments and stakeholders to invest in climate adaptation, urban planning, research, and stronger public health systems to protect growing city populations.
She stressed that without urgent action, Africa’s fast-expanding cities could face even greater health crises in the future.
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