NiMet confirmed a strong El Niño in its August 2026 update. In October it warned of hotter days, heat discomfort, dust and possible water shortages.
NiMet, Aug 2026NiMet warning, 23 Oct 2026El Niño 2026–27 · a plain-words heat guide
The heat is here. Drink before you're thirsty.
A strong El Niño is making Nigeria hotter and drier, and it is expected to last until about February 2027. Here's how much water to drink, the danger signs to watch for, and how SabiCare can remind you on WhatsApp.
- 3 litres ≈ 6 sachets a day
- Reminders that say how much
- First week free
What you see on WhatsApp. Reminders come at your own times.
What is El Niño?
A warm ocean far away that changes our weather here.
Every few years, part of the Pacific Ocean becomes much warmer than usual. That warm water changes how winds and rain move around the whole world. This is called El Niño. It is not new, but this one is strong.
01
The ocean warms
Sea water in the Pacific, near South America, heats up. Weather experts watch it closely and give warnings months ahead.
02
Weather shifts worldwide
Some places get floods, others get drought. Many countries, including ours, get extra heat.
03
What it means for Nigeria
Hotter days and warmer nights, longer dry spells, dust, and less water in some places. The dry season and harmattan months, December to February, are the ones to prepare for.
The facts, with sources
Strong
Feb 2027
31,400
Preventable
What the experts are saying.
Every number here links to where it came from. Projections are estimates, not certainties: they tell us the risk, so we can lower it.
It's expected to last until at least February 2027. The World Meteorological Organization puts the chance at near 100%, with the peak late in 2026.
WMO, Sep 2026Projected extra heat-related deaths in Nigeria from September 2026 to February 2027: the highest of any country in the study. It is an estimate from the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab, not a count.
Climate Impact Lab, via GaviPhys.orgThe harm from heat is "predictable and largely preventable", says the World Health Organization. Water, shade and checking on each other save lives.
WHO fact sheet
Who is most at risk
Heat hits some people much harder.
If you or someone at home is on this list, take extra care this season, and check on them every day.
Taking water pills or some blood-pressure medicines? They can make you lose water faster. Keep taking them, and ask your pharmacist or doctor how much to drink.
- Older peopleThe body feels thirst late and cools down slowly, especially for anyone over 65 or living alone.
- Babies, young children and pregnant womenThey heat up quickly and can't always tell you they are thirsty.
- People living with a conditionHeart, kidney or lung disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Heat makes these worse.
- People who work outsideTraders, okada and keke riders, builders, farmers, hawkers, security guards and drivers.
How much water
Most adults in the heat
Count it in sachets, bottles or cups.
The World Health Organization's heat advice is about 1 cup of water an hour, and at least 2 to 3 litres a day. Here is what that looks like with what you actually buy.
2 LMostly indoors, or older
- Sachets (50cl)
- 4
- Bottles (75cl)
- about 2⅔
- Big bottles (1.5 L)
- about 1⅓
- Cups or glasses (25cl)
- 8
3 LOut and about in the heat
- Sachets (50cl)
- 6
- Bottles (75cl)
- 4
- Big bottles (1.5 L)
- 2
- Cups or glasses (25cl)
- 12
4 LWorking outside all day
- Sachets (50cl)
- 8
- Bottles (75cl)
- about 5⅓
- Big bottles (1.5 L)
- about 2⅔
- Cups or glasses (25cl)
- 16
Has a doctor told you to limit how much you drink? This is common with kidney failure and heart failure. Follow your doctor's amount, not this guide.
- Little and oftenSpread it through the day. Don't wait until you're thirsty: by then your body is already short of water. NiMet
- Not too much at onceKeep it under about 1 litre an hour. Much more than that (around 1.4 litres an hour) can be dangerous. US CDC
- Check your urinePale yellow means you're drinking enough. Dark yellow means drink more.
- Children need lessGive them water often in smaller amounts. Ask a nurse or health worker how much is right for their age.
General guidance, not medical advice. If you're unsure what is right for you, ask a pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
Danger signs
Know the signs. Act fast.
Serious
Heat exhaustion
Heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, cramps, feeling weak or sick, strong thirst.
What to do
- Move them to a cool place or shade.
- Loosen or remove extra clothing.
- Give water to sip, or oral rehydration salts (ORS).
- Cool the skin with a wet cloth and fanning.
They should feel better within 30 minutes. If not, treat it as heatstroke.
Emergency
Heatstroke
Confusion or strange behaviour, hot skin that has stopped sweating, very high temperature, fast breathing or heartbeat, fainting or a fit.
What to do
- Get them to a hospital now. Call for help or a vehicle.
- While you wait, keep cooling them: wet their skin and clothes, fan them.
- Don't force drinks on someone who is confused or unconscious.
Heatstroke can kill. Don't wait to see if it passes.
Based on the NHS guide to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Everyday tips
Four habits that keep your family safe.
Avoid the 12pm–4pm sun
Do hard work and errands early in the morning or in the evening. Stay in the shade when you can.
Check on older people
Call or visit parents, grandparents and neighbours who live alone, every day if you can.
Never leave a child in a car
A parked car heats up very fast, even with the windows a little open. Not even for a few minutes.
Keep medicines cool
Store them in a cool, dry place out of the sun. Not in a hot car or on a sunny window.
How SabiCare helps
Water reminders that tell you exactly how much.
Most of us know we should drink more water. We just forget, especially on a busy, hot day. SabiCare sends a WhatsApp message at your times, in your language, and works out the amount for you.
- 1Send HEAT on WhatsAppOr send WATER. Nothing to download.
- 2Pick your daily goal2 L, 3 L or 4 L, or "my doctor limits my fluids" for reminders without an amount.
- 3Pick what you drink fromSachet (50cl), bottle (75cl), big bottle (1.5 L), cup or glass (25cl), or type your own size, like 60cl or 1L.
- 4Pick up to 4 times a dayWe suggest 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm. Each reminder says exactly how much to drink.
Free for everyone
Check your sachet or bottled water
NAFDAC has shut sachet-water factories that weren't registered (source). Send a photo of the NAFDAC number, or type it: 3 free checks a day.
For parents on medicines
Medication reminders and caregiver alerts
For Mum's blood-pressure or diabetes medicines: Taken, Later and Skip buttons, and you're told when doses are missed.
Plans
First week free, then from ₦1,000 a week
Water reminders are part of SabiCare Unlimited. Launch prices, one payment, no auto-renew. See all plans
Is El Niño the same as harmattan?
No. Harmattan is the dry, dusty wind from the Sahara that comes every year, usually from November to March. El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that happens every few years and shifts weather around the world. This year they overlap, so the dry season may be hotter and drier than usual.
Can I drink too much water?
Yes. Drinking a very large amount in a short time can be dangerous, because it lowers the salt in your blood. Spread your water through the day and keep it under about 1 litre an hour. If you sweat a lot, ORS or salty food helps replace the salt you lose.
Is sachet water safe?
Water from a registered, well-run factory is. But NAFDAC has closed sachet-water factories that weren't registered or weren't clean. Buy sealed sachets from a brand you know, check the NAFDAC number, the batch number and the dates, and don't drink water that looks, smells or tastes odd.
Does SabiCare give medical advice?
No. SabiCare reminds you to drink the amount you choose and checks products against NAFDAC's register. For what's right for your health, ask a pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
Beat the heat. One sachet at a time.
Send HEAT to SabiCare and we'll remind you when to drink, and how much.
Get water reminders on WhatsApp