Abuja – The Nigeria House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to immediately launch a nationwide vaccination campaign across schools to curb the rising cases of diphtheria.
The House’s decision followed the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the House spokesman, Mr. Akin Rotimi. The motion, titled “The Outbreak of Diphtheria at King’s College, Lagos,” highlighted the pressing need for government intervention to prevent further spread of the bacterial infection, which recently claimed the life of a student.
While presenting the motion, Rotimi expressed deep concern over the outbreak of diphtheria at the boarding facility of King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, Lagos. He revealed that the outbreak had tragically led to the death of a 12-year-old student and resulted in the hospitalisation of several others.
Citing data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, Rotimi stated that “from week 19 of 2022 to week 04 of 2025, there were 24,804 confirmed cases of diphtheria across 25 states in Nigeria. There were 1,269 fatalities across 18 states, with some states reporting case fatality rates as high as 80-83 percent.”
He warned that the incident at King’s College exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures at Federal Unity Colleges and underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s responsibility to protect student health and safety.
Commending the Lagos State government, Rotimi acknowledged the prompt activation of the Emergency Operations Committee, isolation and treatment of affected students, and the launch of a mass vaccination campaign to contain the disease. He also praised the efforts of the NCDC and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in combating the outbreak.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools nationwide.
Additionally, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an urgent and comprehensive review of health infrastructure in Federal Unity Colleges and to establish a clear and effective framework for responding to infectious disease outbreaks in educational institutions.
The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to implement immediate and decisive measures to strengthen health and safety protocols in all Federal Unity Colleges, with special attention given to addressing the situation at King’s College.
To further ensure compliance and oversight, the House mandated its Committees on Health and Basic Education to engage with relevant agencies, including the NCDC, to assess and enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
Finally, in a gesture of compassion, the House urged the Federal Government to provide appropriate compensation to the family of the deceased student, acknowledging the tragic loss and the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.