The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to enforce compulsory diphtheria vaccination, testing, and treatment across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
This decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Bitrus Laori, who represents Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency in Adamawa State, during Wednesday’s plenary.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose, throat, skin, and, in severe cases, the heart.
It spreads quickly through respiratory droplets, contaminated objects, and poor hygiene, making children and those with weak immune systems especially vulnerable.
Although first recorded in Borno State in 2011 where it claimed 21 lives the disease has re-emerged and is now straining Nigeria’s already fragile health system.
Laori explained that diphtheria remains a problem in Africa due to low vaccination rates.
In contrast, the disease is nearly nonexistent in countries like the United States and across Europe, thanks to widespread immunisation.
He noted that while other African countries such as Niger, Gabon, and Mauritania have managed outbreaks with minimal deaths due to effective vaccination and access to treatments, Nigeria continues to suffer devastating consequences.
According to Laori, between May 2022 and February 2025, Nigeria recorded 41,978 suspected diphtheria cases in states like Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina. Kano and Yobe were the worst affected, with 24,062 and 5,330 cases respectively.
Most of the infected were children aged between 1 and 14 years, and only 19.7 percent had received full vaccinations. The outbreak has led to 1,279 deaths so far.
He warned that without immediate action, the situation could deteriorate further and spread to more states.
He called for urgent efforts to increase vaccination coverage, improve access to effective treatment, and ensure faster detection of cases.
The motion received strong support from lawmakers during the session, which was led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Following the debate, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to begin mandatory diphtheria immunisation, testing, and treatment in all healthcare centres across the country.
They also instructed the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to start public awareness campaigns on the symptoms, dangers, and spread of the disease.
Finally, the House tasked its Committee on Health and Health Institutions with monitoring how well these directives are being followed and assessing the readiness of health facilities to manage the outbreak.
The committee is to report back within four weeks.
