The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has expressed concern over a reported diphtheria outbreak affecting several local government areas in Oyo State, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to strengthen its response and account for resources committed to childhood immunisation.
The organisation raised the concern against the backdrop of figures it cited showing that Oyo State recorded the lowest childhood immunisation coverage among the six South-West states, despite receiving billions of naira in development financing under the World Bank-supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project.
In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, SSACO described the reported outbreak, including concerns over cases and fatalities among children, as a serious public health issue requiring urgent government intervention.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that can affect the nose and throat, potentially causing breathing difficulties, heart complications and death if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
The local government areas listed by the organisation as affected include Atisbo, Ibadan North-West, Oyo West, Akinyele, Saki, Egbeda, Oriire, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-West, Iwajowa, Ona-Ara, Atiba, Lagelu, Ogbomoso North, Surulere and Oluyole.
“The reported outbreak of diphtheria, with the associated concerns about cases and fatalities among children, should be a wake-up call for Oyo State. Every child deserves protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, and the government must demonstrate that its immunisation programme is reaching vulnerable communities effectively,” the statement said.
The organisation called on the state’s Director of Public Health to explain the factors contributing to the reported outbreak and provide an account of resources spent on immunisation and disease prevention.
According to figures cited by SSACO, Oyo State’s childhood immunisation coverage increased marginally from 51.3 per cent in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to 55 per cent in the 2025–2026 survey, representing an increase of 3.7 percentage points.
The organisation contrasted Oyo’s performance with other South-West states, citing increases from 58.2 to 84.9 per cent in Ekiti, 52.1 to 86 per cent in Lagos, 52.1 to 63.9 per cent in Ogun, 59.8 to 84 per cent in Ondo, and 54.4 to 78.1 per cent in Osun.
It further stated that regional immunisation coverage rose from 58.2 to 72.5 per cent, leaving Oyo at the bottom of the regional comparison.
SSACO also noted that Oyo is the only South-West state among the 12 participating states in the Immunisation Plus component of the IMPACT Project. The other states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau and Sokoto.
The organisation cited audited financial records indicating that cumulative World Bank/International Development Association (IDA) funds received by Oyo under the project stood at approximately ₦9.832 billion as of December 31, 2024.
With a state contribution of ₦41 million and miscellaneous and interest income of ₦13.45 million, total cumulative receipts reportedly amounted to approximately ₦9.886 billion.
“Billions of naira in development financing must translate into measurable improvements in public health. These funds are not free money; they are part of development financing that carries obligations and must deliver value to the people who will ultimately bear the cost,” the organisation said.
It urged the state government to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and relevant development partners to contain the reported outbreak and prevent further transmission.
Beyond the immediate response, SSACO called for the publication of updated IMPACT Project financial and implementation reports detailing subsequent disbursements, expenditure by project component, planned vaccination targets, actual coverage achieved and measures taken to reach underserved communities.
The organisation also questioned the continued engagement of a retired Primary Health Care Board IMPACT Programme Manager involved in project implementation, arguing that transparency in staffing and programme management was necessary given the scale of the funding and concerns about the programme’s outcomes.
“Oyo State has qualified medical and public-health professionals whose expertise should be effectively deployed to strengthen the system. We must insist on accountability and competent programme management,” the statement added.
The campaign organisation maintained that the reported outbreak and immunisation figures warranted an urgent review of the state’s vaccination interventions, funding utilisation and public health delivery system.
