The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately roll out a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools to curb the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
This resolution came after the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, during Wednesday’s plenary.
The motion, titled The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, underscored the need for swift government intervention following the death of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalization of several others.
While presenting the motion, Rotimi expressed concern over the increasing diphtheria cases, citing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) January 26, 2025, Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report. According to the report, Nigeria has recorded 24,804 confirmed cases across 25 states since 2022, with 1,269 deaths reported 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 stated, emphasizing the urgent need for the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen health and safety measures in its institutions.
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He commended the Lagos State Government for swiftly isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and launching a mass vaccination drive to contain the outbreak. He also acknowledged the ongoing 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 efforts and public awareness campaigns in schools to prevent further outbreaks.
The lawmakers further 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.
Additionally, the House tasked its Committees on Health and Basic Education with engaging relevant agencies to enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
Recognizing the tragic loss, the House also urged the Federal Government to compensate the family of the deceased student, stressing the need for accountability and a stronger duty of care toward students in federal institutions.
