The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to launch an urgent nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in schools following the recent outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, which resulted in the death of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalization of several others.
The resolution was passed during Wednesday’s plenary after a motion of urgent public importance was presented by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi.
The motion, titled The Outbreak of Diphtheria in King’s College, Lagos, highlighted the urgent need for government intervention to curb the spread of the deadly bacterial infection.
Rotimi cited alarming statistics from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, revealing that as of January 26, 2025, the country had recorded 24,804 confirmed diphtheria 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.
In response, the lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the NCDC to intensify vaccination drives and public awareness campaigns in schools to prevent further outbreaks.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an immediate assessment of health infrastructure in unity colleges and develop a structured response plan for infectious disease outbreaks in schools.
Commending the swift response by the Lagos State Government, Rotimi acknowledged its efforts in isolating affected students, activating an Emergency Operations Committee, and rolling out a mass vaccination drive.
Additionally, the House mandated its Committees on Health and Basic Education to collaborate with relevant agencies to strengthen infection control measures in federal schools.
Recognizing the tragic loss, lawmakers further urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased student, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to ensure student safety in public institutions.
