The House of Representatives has issued a directive to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to immediately enforce compulsory diphtheria vaccination, testing, and treatment across all healthcare centres in Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, who raised alarm over the alarming resurgence of diphtheria in the country, describing it as a major public health threat.
The lawmakers also tasked the Ministry of Information and National Orientation with launching widespread public sensitisation campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers, symptoms, and modes of transmission of the highly contagious disease.
Laori explained that diphtheria, a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species, has re-emerged with deadly consequences, particularly affecting children in overcrowded and unsanitary communities. He traced the first outbreak to Borno State in 2011, which claimed 21 lives, and warned that the current surge poses a serious risk to Nigeria’s already strained health system.
From May 2022 to February 2025, Nigeria recorded 41,978 suspected cases of diphtheria across several northern states, with Kano and Yobe reporting the highest numbers — 24,062 and 5,330 cases, respectively. Tragically, 1,279 deaths were reported within the same period, mostly among unvaccinated children aged 1 to 14.
Laori pointed out that only 19.7% of affected individuals were fully vaccinated, underscoring the critical need to ramp up immunisation coverage. He also noted that poor access to antitoxins, inadequate early detection, and delays in lab testing have worsened the situation.
In comparison, neighbouring countries like Niger, Gabon, and Mauritania have managed recent diphtheria outbreaks with minimal fatalities, thanks to better vaccination coverage and effective health response systems.
The House has also mandated its Committees on Health and Health Institutions to assess the level of compliance with the mandatory vaccination directive and to evaluate the readiness of health institutions to contain further spread of the disease.
