The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to enforce compulsory diphtheria immunisation, testing, and treatment across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved during Wednesday’s plenary by Bitrus Laori, who represents Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency in Adamawa State.
Diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species, has resurged as a major health threat since its first outbreak in Borno State in 2011, which killed 21 people. The disease, which spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, especially endangers children and people with weakened immune systems.
Laori expressed concern over Nigeria’s low vaccination coverage, which contrasts sharply with countries like the United States and those in Europe where high vaccination rates have kept the disease at bay.
He noted that while nations such as Niger, Gabon, and Mauritania have experienced outbreaks with minimal fatalities due to effective health responses, Nigeria’s situation remains dire.
Between May 2022 and February 2025, Nigeria reported 41,978 suspected diphtheria cases, with Kano and Yobe States recording the highest numbers—24,062 and 5,330 respectively.
Most affected were children aged 1–14, and only 19.7% of them were fully vaccinated. During this period, the disease claimed 1,279 lives.
Laori warned that failure to act could lead to more fatalities and a wider spread of the disease beyond already affected states, citing delayed diagnosis, limited access to antitoxins, and insufficient treatment options as major contributing factors.
The motion, which received unanimous support, prompted the House to direct the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to implement nationwide mandatory diphtheria vaccinations and ensure adequate testing and treatment services.
Additionally, the House tasked the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation with launching public awareness campaigns on the symptoms, risks, and prevention of diphtheria.
The House Committee on Health and Health Institutions was also mandated to assess the level of compliance with the immunisation directive and evaluate the capacity of health institutions to manage the outbreak.
The committee is expected to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.