The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has raised alarm over a diphtheria outbreak affecting several local government areas, with reported cases and fatalities among children.
The 16 affected areas include Atisbo, Ibadan North-West, Oyo West, Akinyele, Saki, Egbeda, Oriire, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-West, Iwajowa, Ona-Ara, Atiba, Lagelu, Ogbomosho North, Surulere, and Oluyole. This was detailed in a statement from the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, in Ibadan.
Oladele stated, “The reported outbreak, particularly concerning children, should be a wake-up call for Oyo. Every child deserves protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, and the government must show that its immunisation programme is effectively reaching vulnerable communities.”
He further highlighted the urgent need for public attention regarding the outbreak, emphasising that diphtheria is preventable through vaccination. Concern was raised over Oyo’s low childhood immunisation rates, which lag behind other South-Western states, despite receiving significant funding from the World Bank for immunisation initiatives.
Recent figures show Oyo’s immunisation coverage increased slightly from 51.3% in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey to 55.0% in 2025-2026. In contrast, neighbouring states like Ekiti and Lagos demonstrated substantial increases, raising questions about the effectiveness of the local government’s health interventions.
The SSACO noted that Oyo is the only South-West state involved in the World Bank’s Immunization Plus component, alongside 11 others across Nigeria. They argued that the low immunisation rates, alongside the diphtheria outbreak, necessitate a thorough review of immunisation resources and outcomes.
They cited financial records indicating that Oyo has received around ₦9.832 billion under the project as of 31 December 2024, stressing that these funds should lead to tangible improvements in public health. The organisation urged the state government to collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant partners to manage the outbreak and prevent further cases.
Additionally, they called for the release of updated financial and implementation reports related to the IMPACT Project, alongside transparency in programme management, asserting that qualified local professionals should be adequately utilised to enhance the health system in Oyo.
