The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has called on the Oyo State Government to strengthen its response to the reported diphtheria outbreak affecting several local government areas, expressing concern over reported cases and fatalities among children.
The organisation also demanded an account of funds received under the World Bank-supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project, citing what it described as low childhood immunisation coverage in the state.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the organisation urged Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to intensify vaccination efforts, particularly in underserved communities, and provide details of its interventions to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat and can cause breathing difficulties, heart complications and death, particularly when treatment is delayed.
The campaign organisation listed 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 among the local government areas reportedly affected.
“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.
According to figures cited by SSACO, Oyo’s childhood immunisation coverage increased from 51.3 per cent in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey to 55 per cent in the 2025–2026 survey, representing a rise of 3.7 percentage points.
The organisation contrasted the figures with those of other South-West states, including Ekiti, where coverage reportedly rose from 58.2 to 84.9 per cent; Lagos, 52.1 to 86 per cent; Ogun, 52.1 to 63.9 per cent; Ondo, 59.8 to 84 per cent; and Osun, 54.4 to 78.1 per cent. It said regional coverage increased from 58.2 to 72.5 per cent over the period.
SSACO further stated that audited financial records showed that Oyo received approximately ₦9.832 billion in cumulative World Bank/International Development Association funds under the IMPACT Project as of December 31, 2024. With the state’s ₦41 million contribution and ₦13.45 million in miscellaneous and interest income, total receipts stood at 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 called on the state government to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
The organisation also demanded the publication of updated IMPACT Project financial and implementation reports, including subsequent disbursements, expenditure by component, vaccination targets, actual coverage and measures taken to reach underserved communities. It further questioned the continued engagement of a retired Primary Health Care Board IMPACT Programme Manager, calling for transparency in staffing and programme management.
The campaign organisation urged the state government to explain the factors behind the reported outbreak and account for resources committed to immunisation and disease prevention. The concerns and financial figures cited in the statement were attributed to SSACO.
