House Of Reps Asks Tinubu Government To Begin Urgent Nationwide Diphtheria Vaccination In Schools
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, during plenary on Wednesday.
The House of Representatives has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to immediately launch a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to curb the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, during plenary on Wednesday.
The motion, titled The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, highlighted the need for swift government intervention after a 12-year-old student died from the disease, with several others hospitalised.
While presenting the motion, Rotimi expressed concern over the growing number of diphtheria cases, referencing data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to the NCDC’s Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, the country has recorded 24,804 confirmed cases across 25 states since 2022, with 1,269 deaths in 18 states.
“The House is deeply concerned that this incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges,” Rotimi said, urging the Federal Ministry of Education to prioritise student safety in its institutions.
He commended the Lagos State Government for its swift response, including isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and initiating a mass vaccination drive to contain the outbreak.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the NCDC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in combating the disease.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify vaccination and public awareness campaigns in schools to prevent further outbreaks.
Additionally, the lawmakers mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an urgent review of health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear response framework for infectious disease outbreaks.
The House also tasked its Committees on Health and Basic Education with engaging relevant agencies to enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
In a further resolution, the House urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased student, recognising the tragic loss and reaffirming the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.
