The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to initiate a statewide diphtheria vaccination program in schools as soon as possible in order to halt the spread of the deadly bacteria.
Following the passage of a motion of urgent public significance introduced by House spokesman Akin Rotimi during Wednesday’s session, the lawmakers passed their resolution.
After a 12-year-old student died from diphtheria and multiple others were ill, the motion, titled The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, emphasised the urgency of prompt government action.
While presenting the motion, Rotimi lamented the rising cases of diphtheria, citing data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of January 26, 2025, which 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,” he said, stressing the need for the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure student safety in its institutions.
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 efforts of the NCDC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency 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.
The lawmakers also 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.
The House further urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased student, acknowledging the tragic loss and the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.
