Millions of Nigerians live in crowded conditions, making them susceptible to tuberculosis (TB), an airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to spread quietly across the country, claiming thousands of lives each year. In Lagos alone, health authorities reported about 15,000 diagnosed TB cases in 2024, but experts estimate that nearly 32,000 people may actually be living with the infection.
The numbers are even more alarming across Nigeria, with the country recording over 400,000 TB cases in 2024, the highest ever reported, and more than 71,000 deaths attributed to the disease. This is a stark reminder that TB has reclaimed its position as the world's deadliest infectious disease, surpassing COVID-19, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global TB Report 2024.
TB remains one of the world's most devastating infectious diseases, killing millions annually. Globally, TB is the number one infectious killer and among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Nigeria mirrors many of these global challenges, carrying a triple burden of TB, drug-resistant TB, and HIV-associated TB, ranking first in Africa and sixth globally.
The alarming TB statistics in Nigeria are a stark reminder of the country's failure to tackle this preventable and curable disease. With over 400,000 cases reported in 2024, it is clear that the government's efforts to combat TB have been insufficient. The fact that 15 Nigerians die every hour from TB is a devastating indictment of the country's healthcare system. The government must take immediate action to increase funding for TB diagnosis and treatment, improve healthcare infrastructure, and educate the public about the risks and symptoms of TB. Only then can Nigeria hope to reduce the number of TB cases and deaths, and bring an end to this silent killer.
